DALLAS — The teenager accused of opening fire at Wilmer-Hutchins High School on Tuesday has turned himself in and now faces multiple first-degree felony charges, according to newly released court documents.
The arrest affidavit sheds light on the moments leading up to the shooting at the Southeast Dallas campus, including key evidence captured by school surveillance cameras.
Suspect Identified and in Custody
Tracy Denard Haynes Jr., 17, voluntarily surrendered at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center around 9 p.m. Tuesday. He has been charged with four counts of aggravated assault in connection with what authorities are calling a mass shooting — a first-degree felony under Texas law.
In the affidavit, a special agent with the Texas Department of Public Safety stated:
“Based on the totality of circumstances, I believe Tracy Denard Haynes Jr. committed the offense of Aggravated Assault — Mass Shooting. Haynes Jr. intentionally, knowingly, and/or recklessly attempted to cause serious bodily injury or death to students attending WHHS, using and exhibiting a deadly weapon during the commission of the offense. He discharged a firearm in an attempt to harm four or more individuals during the same criminal transaction.”
Haynes is being held in the Dallas County Jail with bond set at $600,000 — $150,000 per count.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Authorities have yet to confirm whether Haynes is a current student at Wilmer-Hutchins High School or reveal a motive behind the shooting. Initial reports from Dallas ISD and Dallas Fire-Rescue stated four people were injured. However, police documents now indicate that five individuals were hurt. FOX 4 has reached out for clarification.
How the Shooting Unfolded
All five victims were transported to nearby hospitals. Four sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while one remains in serious condition. According to Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, all victims are expected to recover.
Three of those injured are between 15 and 18 years old. The ages of the remaining two have not been confirmed. Sources told FOX 4 that one 17-year-old male was shot in the lower leg.
Despite the school’s existing security protocols — including metal detectors and a clear backpack policy — Haynes was able to gain access to the building through an unsecured door.
“This was not a failure of staff, protocols, or security equipment,” said Dallas ISD Police Chief Scott Smith.
Witness Accounts and Police Response
Dallas ISD officers and Dallas police responded to reports of gunfire around 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Sergio Campos, a Wilmer City Council member who was on campus for a parent-teacher meeting, described hearing approximately seven shots and seeing students running for safety.
“I saw one or two students being carried out. One appeared to have a leg injury,” Campos said. “The kids were just running out — hundreds of them.”
District Response and School Closure
Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde addressed the media Tuesday afternoon, calling the incident “unthinkable.”
“Quite frankly, this is just becoming way too familiar — and it should not be,” she said. “There are many questions, and we may not have all the answers right now. Some information may change, but we remain committed to transparency.”
Wilmer-Hutchins High School will remain closed for the rest of the week. Additional security personnel will be stationed at nearby campuses, and counselors will be made available to students upon the school’s reopening.
Context: A Troubling Pattern
This week’s incident comes almost exactly one year after another shooting at the same school. On April 12, 2024, a 17-year-old student brought a revolver onto campus and shot a classmate in the leg.
That case remains ongoing. The suspect, Ja’kerian Rhodes Ewing, is scheduled for a hearing in Dallas on April 22.
