Texas School Shooting: Quick Response Saved Lives

GALVESTON, TX — In the days after a mass shooting at Santa Fe High School that claimed 10 innocent lives, details of what could have happened if it were not for the rapid response of school district officers are beginning to emerge.

One of those officers, former Houston Police Officer John Barnes, is recovering from gunshot wounds received when he confronted 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis, the alleged gunman.

Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset said officers responding to the shooting arrived at Santa Fe High School in less than five minutes after receiving the call that a shooting was in progress.

About 200 police officers and sheriffs deputies from various agencies responded to the shooting, but it was the response of those officers who arrived first to confront and contain Pagourtzis, and eventually negotiate a surrender that drew high praise from Trochesset.

“They’re heroes,” he said during a press conference on Monday.

It was those officers who were able to contain the alleged shooter, while other officers searched the campus, The Galveston County Daily News reported.

About 10 minutes after the first shots were fired, police who were in the school recovered three victims from one of the classrooms, and about 10 minutes after that, Pagourtzis surrendered to police.

Three hours after the shooting ended, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed that at least 10 people were dead inside the school, but the identities of many of those victims weren’t confirmed until later that day.

While police were searching the campus, they also recovered explosive materials inside the school, and at Pagourtzis' home about 4 miles away from the campus.

Meanwhile, questions arose during the Monday press conference whether some of the victims were caught in a crossfire between the shooter and police.

"From what I see, I don't believe any of the individuals that were killed were from law enforcement," Trochesset said. "And I can't give you that full until the autopsy."

Pagourtzis faces multiple charges for capital murder and is also charged with aggravated assault against a public servant.

He is being held without bond and is on suicide watch at the Galveston County Jail.

Image: : Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset speaks about the shooting at Santa Fe High School during a press conference on May 21, 2018 in Santa Fe, Texas. Seventeen-year-old student Dimitrios Pagourtzis on May 18 entered the school with a shotgun and a pistol and opened fire, killing 10 people, authorities said. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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