Alpine High School in Alpine, Texas reported a Shooter on Campus, 1 Student Dead and 2 People Injured

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business  Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

Officials at Alpine High School in Alpine, Texas near the Big Bend National Park reported an active shooter on campus during the morning of Thursday, September 8, 2016, before 9 a.m., causing a lockdown of the high school campus as well as nearby Sul Ross State University.

The alleged shooter is reportedly dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.  The shooter was a 14 year old freshman girl who shot another girl in the High Schoool’s Band Hall restroom. A Big Bend Regional Medical Center representative reports treating three victims at the hospital today, but could not provide specific details.  A U.S. Department of Homeland Security federal officer was accidentally shot by a U.S. Marshal whose gun went off. 

The West Texas community of Alpine, Texas is in shock that someone brought a gun to school and began opening fire in this rural ranching scenic community near the U.S.-Mexico border.  Alpine, Texas has approximately 5,000 residents and is home to Sul Ross State University.

The Alpine Independent School District operates three schools: an elementary school, a middle school, and Alpine High School, where the shooting occurred.  All schools were placed in lockdown and later dismissed.

Adding confusion to the incident were several telephone calls received at the Brewster County Sheriff’s Department from a male caller threatening to bomb Sul Ross State University, forcing law enforcement officers to cover multiple threats.
The following is a statement from Pete Gallego, Alpine resident and former Congressman of Texas’ 23rd district:

“I’ve lived in Alpine just about my whole life. Alpine has had some rough days, but this has been one of the roughest.

“Alpine is a small town where we all know each other. In such a tightly-knit community, today’s event hits home and touches all of us. I know that, like me, all residents of Alpine are struggling to make sense of this tragedy.”