A 15-year-old student shot a female teacher before fatally shooting himself Monday morning at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde, authorities said.
The shooting was reported around 8:34 a.m. and triggered a campus lockdown that lasted for hours. Students were later transported to Bulverde Middle School to reunite with their parents.
The school remained closed Tuesday “to allow time for our families and staff to process and begin healing,” Principal Julie Wiley said in an email to families Monday evening.
The investigation is ongoing, and many questions remain.
Academic pressure could have motivated shooting, sheriff says
Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said at a press conference Monday that the accused shooter’s family showed up to the reunification site to retrieve their child, but instead were greeted by law enforcement officers.
The student’s identity has not been made public. At the news conference, Reynolds said investigators confirmed the student used a .357 revolver that he brought from his home. The origins of the firearm are still under investigation.
The sheriff said investigators were still conducting interviews to try to identify a motive and determine whether there were “warning signs” based on the student’s behavior before the shooting.
“As far as the warning signs, I couldn’t answer that at the present,” Reynolds said. “That is something that…I’m sure we’re going to be talking to other students, we’ll be talking to faculty, we’ll be talking to family.”
The student was failing multiple classes and could’ve been motivated by academic pressure, the sheriff said, but authorities are still investigating his electronic devices and can’t make a clear determination of motive yet.
GoFundMe raises more than $13K for wounded teacher
The teacher who was shot has not been publicly identified. Authorities said she was taken to a San Antonio hospital for treatment.
A GoFundMe created on her behalf says she underwent surgery for her injuries.
“The funds raised will go directly toward her medical bills and support her as she heals from this traumatic event,” the page states.
An update posted Tuesday said Comal Independent School District would cover the teacher’s medical bills, but the district has not confirmed that to the American-Statesman.