Security has been increased at Burges High School “out of an abundance of caution” following a shooting at a park behind the campus, an EPISD spokesman said.
The El Paso Independent School District, which has its own police force, increased its security presence on Tuesday, April 14, following a shooting after lunchtime on Monday, April 13, at James “Jim” Crouch Park, formerly Ponder Park, in the Cielo Vista neighborhood, EPISD spokesman Ernie Chacon said in an email to the El Paso Times.
“The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, and the campus took this step to ensure a calm and secure learning environment,” Chacon added.
There were no known injuries when gunshots were reportedly fired at the park, which resulted in a large police response and a precautionary lockdown and police search of the Burges campus on Monday.
The El Paso Police Department continues its investigation into the shooting and has not released further details as of Wednesday morning.
Anyone with information on gun violence and criminal activity in schools may anonymously call Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 915-566-8477 (TIPS).
Woman died of medical issue in West El Paso crash
A 47-year-old woman died from a medical issue and not due to a vehicle collision at a West Side intersection over the weekend, an El Paso police spokeswoman said.
The collision involving a pickup truck and another vehicle occurred about 11:45 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at the intersection of North Mesa Street and Brentwood Avenue.
The crash was investigated by the Special Traffic Investigations Unit but will not be counted among traffic-related fatalities since the death was determined to be due to a medical condition, police spokeswoman Detective Judy Oviedo said. The type of medical condition was not immediately available.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Burges High School security increased after park shooting
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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