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15-year-old Arlington Lamar High School shooting suspect detained after court hearing

Arlington police investigate a shooting at Lamar High School in Arlington on March 20, 2023. Two students were shot, one fatally.

The Arlington Lamar High School student accused of opening fire with a shotgun — killing one classmate and injuring another — was ordered to be detained after his first court appearance Tuesday.

The 15-year-old suspect, who faces a charge of capital murder, appeared before Judge Alex Kim on Tuesday afternoon with his family present in Tarrant County juvenile court, KDFW-TV and KTVT reported.

A 16-year-old male student, identified by family and the medical examiner as Jashawn Poirier, died at a hospital Monday after he was shot in the head and chest.

A female student suffered a graze injury to her cheek and was treated at a hospital.

Police have said surveillance video captured the shooting, which occurred about 6:55 a.m. Monday outside the school at 1400 W. Lamar Blvd., about 40 minutes before classes were scheduled to begin.

Police said they believe the suspect was targeting at least one of the victims, who were sitting close to the school steps, but the motive for the shooting remains under investigation.

The shooter fired two rounds and then ran, police said. The suspect was arrested when officers arrived a few minutes later. According to information presented in court, the suspect dropped his bag, which contained a weapon that matched the description of the gun used in the shooting, KTVT reported.

The suspect’s clothes also matched the description from witnesses, and shotgun shells found at the scene and in the suspect’s backpack matched shells found at his home, a prosecutor said, citing a police report. Police said they’re investigating how the student obtained the gun.

The suspect’s name is not being released because of his age. He was ordered detained until the next hearing, which is scheduled to take place in 10 days as required by law.

“This is a truly tragic case, but one in which we ask you to reserve judgment until we are able to reveal all of the facts and circumstances,” the suspect’s attorney, Lisa Herrick, said in a news release.

Herrick, a juvenile law attorney at Varghese Summerset, said the suspect has never been in the juvenile justice system before and was “understandably emotional.”

Lamar High students who were already on campus Monday morning were rushed into classrooms and the building was locked down while police searched it. Several hours later, students were bused to Arlington ISD’s Athletics Center, where their parents picked them up.

Classes were canceled Tuesday, and counselors will be on campus when students return Wednesday.

Two Arlington churches held prayer vigils for the community Tuesday night. The first was scheduled for 6:15 p.m. near the memorial garden of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 2100 N. Davis Drive. The second prayer service was scheduled for 7 p.m. in the sanctuary at New World United Methodist Church, 2201 N. Davis Drive.

Star-Telegram staff writer James Hartley contributed to this report.