DALLAS — A Thursday afternoon shooting at a Dallas park near Woodrow Wilson High School ended in tragedy, killing a student and forcing hundreds of others into lockdown as police rushed to secure the area. The violence unfolded just blocks from the school, sending shockwaves through students, parents, and the surrounding community.
Dallas ISD officials said three Woodrow Wilson High School students were involved in the incident. According to district spokeswoman Robyn Harris, one of the students, a senior and member of the school’s soccer team, was fatally shot. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victim as 18-year-old Wornan Padilla Garcia.
Details surrounding the involvement of the other two students remain unclear. Authorities have not confirmed whether they were injured or were witnesses to the shooting. Dallas police said a suspect was taken into custody shortly after the incident, but the suspect’s identity and a possible motive have not yet been released as the investigation continues.
Police call logs show officers were dispatched around 3:45 p.m. to the 100 block of South Glasgow Drive, near Willis C. Winters Park, which is close to the high school campus. At least 10 police units responded to the scene as reports of gunfire came in, prompting an immediate and heavy law enforcement presence.
The scene quickly filled with police vehicles, flashing lights, and yellow crime scene tape that blocked off nearly two city blocks. Students and parents gathered nearby, many visibly shaken as they waited for updates. Traffic in the area came to a standstill, with school buses caught in long lines due to street closures put in place for the investigation.
As a precaution, hundreds of students were placed on lockdown while officers secured the area and searched for any additional threats. School officials worked to notify parents and ensure students’ safety. The shooting has left the Woodrow Wilson High School community mourning the loss of a young athlete and classmate, while investigators continue working to determine what led to the deadly violence.
