dallas skyline

Dallas ISD Increases Security Measures Following Shooting at High School Basketball Game

The district is banning bags at games for the next week and considering the addition of weapons detection devices at event entrances.

The Dallas Independent School District has announced an increase in security measures following a shooting during a high school basketball game in the southern part of the city.

A game between South Oak Cliff and Kimball high schools on Saturday night erupted into chaos when shots rang out during the third quarter, sending hundreds of spectators fleeing the venue. Dallas ISD officers were escorting a group that was beginning to fight near a concession stand when a 15-year-old student took out a gun and began to shoot, according to NBC DFW.

The shooting, which took place just hours after the new South Oak Cliff High School was officially opened, wounded an 18-year-old former Dallas ISD student involved in the fight and a veteran school police officer. The officer was grazed in the shoulder and quickly released from the hospital, while the student was critically injured.

Superintendent Michael Hinojosa ultimately decided to allow the two high schools to finish their game on Monday afternoon with increased security measures. In addition, Hinojosa said that all bags, purses and backpacks will be banned from sporting events this week only. After that, the district’s clear-bag policy already in place will be reinstated.

“This was an incident that has spilled over from the community, but we cannot absolve our responsibility because it happened on our watch, on our property,” Hinojosa said, according to NBC DFW.

Read More: How Districts Are Addressing A Growing, Underreported Threat: Shootings at School Sporting Events

While no metal detectors will be added, attendees will be checked by security guards using metal-detecting wands, according to NBC DFW. Metal detectors are usually on hand at football games.

In addition, Dallas ISD is exploring other measures, like “decentralizing” where games are played, meaning games will be played at either teams’ gyms instead of a neutral location like Davis Field House, where the South Oak Cliff-Kimball game was played.

Dallas ISD officials are also considering the addition of weapon detection devices and developing a task force to address school violence.

At a news conference, Hinojosa said the issue has gotten worse in recent years. Shootings and other violence at after-school events, particularly football and basketball games, have been on the rise nationwide, causing districts to evaluate how to address community violence within schools.

"What's really disappointing to me is that the public schools, in my personal history [of being a student, teacher and superintendent], there was kind of this truce," Hinojosa said, according to WFAA. "The truce is that those activities happen off-campus. Well, that truce is now over because it now spilled over onto our campus, which makes this much more difficult."

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Black Hills State University Takes an Open, Scalable Approach to Video Security

    Black Hills State University recognized the need for a centralized video system to improve campus security and streamline operations. The university sought a solution that could unify its main campus with a satellite location, enable cross-department access, and scale with future growth. By implementing open platform video technology, BHSU laid the foundation for a comprehensive, flexible, and scalable security infrastructure. Read Now

  • Pennsylvania School Uses Locked, Rolling Security Grille to Control Spectators, Secure Building

    St. Jude School in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania, is a private Catholic elementary school that serves students from Pre-K through grade 8. Recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, St. Jude offers diverse educational programs designed to foster a nurturing and challenging learning environment, and extracurricular activities like sports are an integral part of promoting teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness. Read Now

  • Fire-Rated Glazing Assemblies Modernize Academic and Social Hub

    In spring 2023, the University of Pittsburgh opened the doors to a seven-story west wing addition to Alan Magee Scaife Hall. The medical school building features several updated lecture halls, labs and classrooms. It also includes team-based learning and small group rooms as well as an entire floor dedicated to medical students. This floor is meant for students to congregate, study and build community. Read Now

  • Access Control Trends Continue to Strengthen School Safety Security

    Class period bells have been ringing across campuses for a few months now, but that doesn’t mean the subject of safety was fully settled before the start of the new school year. As one wise person once said, “It’s a journey, not a destination”. That’s why it remains a leading issue among administrators, faculty, students, and communities. Schools are striving to be at the top of their class when it comes to the ability to control access instantly and securely, monitor suspicious behavior accurately and consistently, and respond to threats immediately and effectively. Ultimately, they aim to provide a reassuring, comfortable, and conducive environment for a rich learning experience. These goals apply whether at a community college in Southern California, a major university in Pennsylvania, or a rural K-12 district in Michigan. Read Now