Pasadena ISD and city honor parents, students and officers for campus shooting response

At its Feb. 25 meeting, the Pasadena ISD Board of Trustees publicly recognized multiple people who intervened when gunfire interrupted an indoor drumline event at Pasadena Memorial High School earlier in February.

Superintendent Dr. Powell described the response as heroic and asked those who assisted to come forward for public recognition. He named several parents and volunteers, including Juan Lopez and Corey Veasey, and acknowledged four Pearland-area fathers who rushed to help secure a suspect and the weapon until law enforcement could take custody.

The district also recognized three Pasadena Memorial students'Makayla Talavera, Charles Mitchell and Jorge Garza'who provided first aid and assisted an injured percussion consultant, and it thanked Pasadena ISD Police and the city of Pasadena police, listing officers present for recognition.

Jeff Wagner, mayor, presented a proclamation and told honorees the city was declaring a day in their honor, saying, "As mayor of this great city, today, each one of y'all, we're gonna name it y'all's day here in Pasadena." The board announced a VIP reception immediately following the meeting so honorees and families could gather with staff and officers.

"From the bottom of our hearts, we thank all of these heroes that jumped in to save lives," the superintendent said, adding the district will host a reception and provide certificates and photos.

The recognition followed the district's reporting that the suspect was quickly restrained and arrested by law enforcement and that timely first aid and adult intervention aided in a more positive outcome than might otherwise have occurred.

The board did not take formal policy action during the recognition segment; the event served to publicly acknowledge community members, students and public safety partners and to thank volunteers and officers for their response.