Principal shot, suspect in custody after shooting at school in Houston

A school employee was injured and an adult man is in custody following a shooting Friday morning at a YES Prep charter school in southwest Houston, police said.

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No students were injured.

Update 11:02 p.m. EDT Oct. 1: A YES Prep charter school in southwest Houston has identified the victim in Friday’s shooting as Principal Eric Espinoza, KTRK reported.

According to the school, Espinoza has non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to be released from the hospital on Friday.

Update 1:50 p.m. CDT Oct. 1: Police Chief Troy Finner said a 25-year-old former student was in custody after he opened fire at a YES Prep charter school in Houston.

The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, got into the school by shooting a locked glass door, Finner said. He “immediately fired upon one of the employees of the school.”

Authorities declined to identify the injured school employee, citing the need to notify his family. Finner said he was shot in the back and taken to a hospital in serious condition.

“We’re going to pray that he’s going to be alright,” he said.

Officers found the suspect while responding to reports of the shooting around 11:45 a.m. CDT. He was armed with a rifle and surrendered without incident, Finner said.

The chief praised officers for their response to the incident, saying that, “It could have been a lot worse.”

More than 1,000 students were in the school at the time of the shooting, though none were injured.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shooting.

Update 1:25 p.m. CDT Oct. 1: Police are expected to hold a news briefing around 1:30 p.m. following Friday’s reported school shooting.

Update 1:15 p.m. CDT Oct. 1: Citing an unidentified law enforcement source, Houston Public Media reported that a staff member was injured in Friday’s shooting at a charter school in Houston.

The staff member, who was not identified, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to Houston Public Media. Their condition was not immediately known.

Update 1:10 p.m. CDT Oct. 1: Officials with the Houston Fire Department told KTRK-TV that one person was taken to a hospital following reports of a shooting Friday at YES Prep Southwest Secondary.

In a statement obtained by the news station, YES prep officials confirmed that a person opened fire inside the school.

“No students have been injured,” the statement read. “Students have been transported to W. Fuqua and Hiram Clarke, where they can be picked up. Please do not drive to the school; roads are blocked by Houston Police Department.”

Original report: Police said they responded to a call about the shooting at 11:45 a.m. CDT. Authorities said they were searching the school for any other possible suspects around 12:25 p.m.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

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