LePaul Warren, a senior at Westbury High School in Houston, died from his injuries on Sept. 25
Credit: Family Handout
NEED TO KNOW
- A teenager was shot dead outside a Texas high school on Sept. 25
- LePaul Warren, a 17-year-old senior at Westbury High School in Houston, died from his injuries despite life-saving measures performed at the scene of the incident
- Westbury High School’s homecoming dance on Sept. 25 and a homecoming game scheduled for the following day were canceled after the shooting
A teenager was shot and killed following a dispute outside a Texas high school.
At approximately 8:21 a.m. local time on Friday, Sept. 25, the Houston Police Department (HPD) responded to reports of shots fired outside Westbury High School in Houston, authorities said at a press conference.
LePaul Warren, a 17-year-old senior at the school, was the teen killed in the shooting, Fox 26 Houston, Click2Houston and ABC 13 Houston reported.
Life-saving measures were performed on Warren at the scene, but he died from his injuries, per the HPD.
A 17-year-old male suspect was arrested later that evening, the HPD confirmed.
He was not enrolled in any schools in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), HPD Chief J. Noe Diaz said at the press conference.
The suspect allegedly fled the scene after the fatal shooting incident.
His identity has not been shared publicly, and it is not clear if he has been charged or has legal representation to comment on his behalf. (Diaz said during the press conference the suspect is eligible to be charged as an adult.)
Credit: Google
“We’re being told there was a group of young people that hung out there and someone came out of a wooded area [near] another complex and some words were exchanged. Someone produced a handgun, and unfortunately the young man lost his life as a result,” HPD Chief Diaz said during the Sept. 25 press conference.
“We identified a resident that we thought that he perhaps may be, and with our on-the-ground surveillance [team] … we saw him leave the area and we followed him until we were positively able to identify who he was,” he continued.
A weapon was recovered from the suspect at the time of his arrest, but it is not known if it was used in the shooting specifically, Diaz added.
Warren’s friend who witnessed the shooting told KHOU 11, “I hid behind the car, because I just saw his body fall and I didn’t want to just leave him … I just at least wanted to give him a chance to survive.”
HISD Superintendent Mike Miles said in a statement, per Fox 26 Houston, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a Westbury High School student. My thoughts are with the student’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and the entire Westbury community during this incredibly difficult time.”
“HISD is providing counseling and additional support for students and staff at Westbury, and we will continue to support the school community in the days ahead,” Miles’ message continued.
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Westbury High School’s homecoming dance on Sept. 25 and a homecoming game scheduled for the following day were canceled after the shooting, Fox 26 Houston reported.
PEOPLE has reached out to Westbury High School, the HPD, the HISD and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for comment on Saturday, Sept. 26, but did not recieve immediate responses.
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