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Katy ISD Students Praised for Practicing Safety Protocols During Shooting at Band Competition

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

February 3, 2025

By Natalie Cook Clark

 

Katy ISD students were involved in a Band Drumline Competition on Saturday where an individual entered the hosting school (Pasadena Memorial High School) and discharged a gun. All Katy ISD students were unharmed, and the district quickly notified families.



On Saturday, February 1, 2025 Katy ISD students from multiple high schools attended a band competition at Pasadena Memorial High School. An elderly man entered the event and discharged his gun.



A band parent and an off-duty Houston Police Officer plus some other band dad’s will military backgrounds tackled the suspect to the ground and then security personnel on site took him into custody. The 83-year-old suspect, Dennis Erqin Brandle Jr. is now behind bars.

 

The bullet from the small-caliber handgun struck a man in the shoulder. He is expected to recover after he was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

 

According to the Pasadena Police Department, Brandl claimed he was being chased and feared for he and his wife’s safety. He was in no way associated with the band contest. Authorities are unclear at this time if he had some sort of mental breakdown.

 

Both Katy ISD and Pasadena ISD were quick to release statements to parents.

 

Katy ISD informed families that students and staff at the competition were not directly impacted by the shooting.

 

The district’s statement read:

 

“Dear Katy ISD Parents and Guardians,


This message is to notify you of a shooting incident tonight that occurred in Pasadena near the competition in which Jordan High School, Morton Ranch High School, and other district percussion teams were performing. Safety precautions were implemented immediately. Students at the performance were not impacted by the shooting. The event did, however, prompt some of our students and staff to shelter in a safe area at the competition location. All students and staff are safe and accounted for and have since boarded buses to return home. We applaud our students for calmly and quickly responding to the situation and practicing all safety protocols."



Pasadena ISD also shared a statement on the incident:

“This evening at Pasadena Memorial High School, an elderly male walked into the entrance to the auditorium during a drum line competition. He was in possession of a weapon and discharged it. The individual with the weapon was immediately tackled by a parent attending the event. Pasadena ISD Police, a civilian, and several good Samaritans immediately apprehended the suspect. One adult male victim was shot in the shoulder and transported to the hospital. At this time, we do not know his condition. The shooter was not affiliated with the band contest, and it is currently under investigation why he was on campus.”

 

Katy families took to social media to praise the district on quick communication. Student safety is a top priority even when Katy students are off campus in school related events.




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