One person was hurt in the incident, which occurred at a high school in the Houston region. Officials say a parent attacked a man who opened fire during a band competition, and several others helped disarm and detain him.
According to authorities, the man, who is in his 80s, entered Pasadena Memorial High School on Saturday night during the tournament, which had students from several different school systems, and fired a small-caliber pistol.
The injured individual was a technical consultant for their band’s percussion, according to the Angleton Independent School District. After being hit in the shoulder, the man was transported to the hospital, according to the police, and his condition is stable.
The Pasadena Independent School District claims that the shooter was not connected to the competition. After he discharged the pistol, a parent attacked him, and the district said that school police and a number of good Samaritans helped capture him.
At a news conference, Pasadena Police Chief Jerry Wright stated that a suspect was disarmed in 60 seconds and that they stopped the suspect from shooting again.
In a statement, the Pearland Independent School District reported that several of the parents of their pupils courageously stepped in, subduing the person and holding them until the police could arrive.
How the incident unfolded
The parents were fathers who assisted with the competition, according to KHOU-TV, a CBS affiliate in Houston.
Abram Trevino, a 13-year member of the Air Force, Adam Curow, a 14-year veteran of the Army, Efrain Polo Castillo, a 4-year Marine Corps veteran, and longtime Houston police sergeant Joe Sanchez hurried to the scene.
They help with band-related activities at Pearland High School as part of the Pearland Band Dads. The school’s students took part in the competition on Saturday.
When they heard a lot of commotion, the fathers informed KHOU they were moving equipment.
Sanchez told the reporter, “I was with the same prop, dropped everything, and ran through the lobby door because people were coming out screaming and saying, Active shooter, active shooter.”
Before he and the other three Pearland Band Dads stepped in, Sanchez claimed that another man had already started to subdue the suspect.
As Adam took the gun out of his hand, I grabbed his arms. Since we were without handcuffs, I removed my belt, put handcuffs on him, and secured his left and right arms, Sanchez told the media.
Possible motive
The Pasadena Police Department has identified the suspect as Dennis Erwin Brandl, Jr., 83. Brandl, Jr. reportedly told police that he thought he and his wife were going to be killed and that he was being hunted. In the spring, he moved away from home and attended school in Pasadena.
On the night of the shooting, Curow says he heard something similar straight from Brandl, Jr.
We would check around or scan the area to see if there was another or potential second person who could be the person he was referring to, but there wasn’t while the suspect was on the ground and kept repeating, “Someone’s trying to shoot me, someone’s trying to shoot me.” Curow clarified that it was all parents, students, and onlookers.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.