Wilmer-Hutchins High School Shooting Suspect in Custody After Turning Himself In

The suspect in Tuesday’s school shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Southeast Dallas has turned himself in and now faces multiple first-degree felony charges. According to an arrest affidavit, 17-year-old Tracy Denard Haynes Jr. surrendered to authorities at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center late Tuesday night. He is currently held at the Dallas County Jail on a $600,000 bond, charged with four counts of aggravated assault in a mass shooting.

Court documents reveal that Haynes allegedly entered the school through an unsecured door with the help of an unidentified student. Surveillance footage shows him walking through the hallways before confronting a group of male students and opening fire, striking five individuals. He reportedly approached one student who couldn’t flee and shot him at close range.

Despite the violence, all five victims survived. Four sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while one remains in serious condition. The victims’ ages range from 15 to 18, although some details are yet to be confirmed. Dallas officials say all are expected to recover.

Haynes is accused of using a firearm during a criminal act that targeted four or more people, qualifying it as a mass shooting under Texas law. The affidavit states that he acted “intentionally, knowingly, and/or recklessly” in an attempt to cause serious harm or death.

This tragic event has raised further questions about school security. Wilmer-Hutchins High School has metal detectors and a clear backpack policy in place. Yet, authorities confirmed that Haynes gained access through an unsecured door—not due to system failure but a lapse in physical security.

Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde addressed the public, calling the shooting “unthinkable” and emphasizing the need for continued transparency. She noted the disturbing familiarity of such events, underscoring the urgency of addressing school safety at every level.

The high school will remain closed for the rest of the week, with added security at nearby campuses and counseling services set to be offered upon reopening.

This marks the second shooting incident at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in just over a year. In April 2024, another 17-year-old student was charged after bringing a revolver to school and shooting a peer in the leg. That suspect, Ja’kerian Rhodes Ewing, is scheduled for a court hearing later this month.

As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with difficult questions, ongoing trauma, and a renewed call for stronger preventative measures.