Arlington, Texas – An 18-year-old high school student was tragically shot to death by one of his peers in the parking lot of James Bowie High School on Wednesday afternoon. The victim, identified as Etavion Barnes, was found unresponsive by school resource officers as they responded to reports of shots fired near a portable building on campus.
In response to the incident, the school was immediately placed on lockdown as Arlington police officers began searching for the alleged shooter. The 17-year-old suspect, who was discovered nearby, was taken into custody without resistance. He has since been charged with one count of murder and booked into Arlington City Jail.
Both the victim and the alleged shooter were students at Bowie High School and were known to each other. Detectives are currently investigating the motive behind the tragic event. Following the arrest, officers collaborated with the Arlington Independent School District to lift the lockdown and relocate students and staff to a reunification center to be reunited with their families.
Chief of Police Al Jones expressed condolences to the Bowie High School community and emphasized the community’s stand against violence. The high school administration announced the cancellation of classes for students on Thursday, with plans in place to provide counseling support upon their return.
Social media was flooded with messages of support and prayers from concerned alumni as they reached out to offer their thoughts and sympathies to the school and the victim’s family. The incident has sparked deep reflection and calls for unity within the Bowie High School community in the wake of the tragedy.