Wilmer-Hutchins High School holds assembly on school safety after shooting
DALLAS - One week after a student shot another student at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Southeast Dallas, students held an assembly on school safety.
A pep rally inside the school on Friday was meant to raise spirits. The event began with an apology from a teacher to the students about last week's shooting.
One student was shot in the leg last Friday, and the suspect, 17-year-old Ja’Kerian Rhodes-Ewing, is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a weapon in a prohibited place.
At this point, it’s still unclear how the weapon made it through security in the first place.
Dallas ISD said new safety measures are now in place, but it did not specify what they were.
Ja'kerian Presley Rhodes-Ewing (Dallas PD)
Earlier this week, FOX 4 heard from students who walked out, complaining that they didn't feel safe at the school.
After hearing from school administrators as well as alumni, the Friday pep rally ended with the students walking out again in a show of unity and solidarity. This time, they had the district’s blessing.
"First and foremost, I would like to give all glory to God for allowing us to still be able to get at this school since last Friday's gun violence incident took place," said senior Quinece Torrence. "As we are here today, I would like to acknowledge the state of our school this year. I've been at this school for all four years, and I can speak for myself and many other classmates when I say that this year is by far the most calm school year we have had yet."
Others let their handwritten, heartfelt messages about last week's life lesson speak for them. Some say they want change and want better.
"We want more communication with our parents and students," said junior student Jazlin Voicio. "It wasn't the best feeling seeing all those parents scared for their child’s lives. It’s an unbelievable feeling."
The district says it's been trying to do that this week by reestablishing relationships and expectations with students and staff so they can feel physically and psychologically safe.
Sophomore Ja'Khyia Williams told her peers what happened at Hutchins could have happened anywhere.
"So let's stop trying to bury our school and remind them of the stars we are," she said.
As the band played on, the students marched arm in arm out of the gym to the front of the campus as a symbolic show of unity and support for their principal and Wilmer-Hutchins High.
In a statement Friday, the superintendent says that there have been security upgrades made within the school. Those upgrades were not disclosed.
They also said that they have spent time with the students, counseling them and visiting with them in small groups.
The school says they are still gathering information about last week's incident.