Crime

Student Killed During Texas High School Shooting ID'd by Family as 16-Year-Old Ja'Shawn Poirier

A male juvenile suspect has been charged with one count of capital murder, police say

Updated on March 22, 2023 10:15 AM

Update: This story has been edited to reflect the fact that the fatal victim, Ja'Shawn Poirier, 16, has been identified by family.

One student was killed and another wounded in a shooting Monday at a high school in Texas, authorities said.

A GoFundMe page organized by the cousin of the slain student identified him as Ja'Shawn Poirier, a 16-year-old sophomore at Lamar High School.

The GoFundMe describes Poirier as "a friendly, quiet kid" who loved sports, video games, and being around friends and family.

"He made friends easily and had quite a few of them who loved him," the page states.

Officers responding to the school's campus in Arlington found a male student, since identified as Poirier, with an apparent gunshot wound and a female student who was grazed by gunfire just before 7 a.m., according to a press release from the Arlington Police Department.

Jashawn Poirier — Ja’Shawn Poirier. GoFundMe

Both victims were taken to a nearby hospital, where Poirier was pronounced dead, police said. The girl was expected to survive.

A male juvenile suspect was arrested at the scene and has been charged with one count of capital murder, according to the release. Police have not confirmed whether the alleged shooter was a student. The suspect is being held at the Tarrant County Juvenile Center.

"The suspect never entered the school building and ran from the campus immediately after firing the shots," police said in the release, adding that he was taken into custody without incident after witnesses gave his description to 911 dispatchers.

School officials and Arlington police assist families in being reunited with students at the Arlington ISD Athletic Center on Monday, March 20, 2023. Two students were shot, one fatally, Monday morning at Lamar High, causing a lockdown. Arlington police have arrested a suspect. — Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty

Investigators also said they found a gun they believe was used in the shooting, which occurred just before classes began for the day.

The school was placed on lockdown while police searched for the suspect, according to district officials, but children were reunited with their families around 11 a.m., the Associated Press reports.

Superintendent Marcelo Cavazos told the AP that classes were canceled Tuesday and counselors would be available to students and staff on Wednesday.

"We, as a community, cannot tolerate this kind of violence," Arlington Police Chief Al Jones said in a statement.

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"We need gun owners to be responsible and to properly secure their firearms, so they don't end up on our school campuses. We will continue to work in lock step with our partners at Arlington ISD to ensure our schools are safe spaces where students can learn."

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross added, "Our thoughts are with the affected students, their families and the entire Lamar High School community today in light of this unnecessary violence."