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Heroic Fathers Thwart High School Shooting Suspect

by Nolan Hawk

A group of unlikely heroes emerged from an equally unlikely high school shooting that occurred over the weekend in Texas.

Dads stop high school shooting

An elderly gunman opened fire during a high school band competition at Pasadena Memorial High School in Texas, wounding one person on Saturday night, before being quickly disarmed by a group of parents who stepped in to stop him.

Officials stated the high school shooting occurred during a competition that included students from several school districts.

The individual that was shot was identified as a percussion technical consultant for the Angleton Independent School District, who was hit in the shoulder. Police reported he was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

The suspect, who had no connection to the competition, entered the event and fired a small-caliber weapon, according to the Pasadena Independent School District.

Action was swiftly taken by a parent attending the event, who tackled the gunman immediately after the weapon was discharged. Several other parents intervened to detain him until the school district police arrived on scene.

“Within 60 seconds, a suspect was disarmed and they prevented further shooting by this suspect,” Pasadena Police Chief Jerry Wright noted at a press briefing.

The Pearland Independent School District later highlighted the parents who “bravely intervened, successfully subduing the individual and detaining them until law enforcement arrived.”

KHOU-TV said the parents involved were fathers who lend a hand at band-related activities for Pearland High School. Students from the school were among the competitors that evening.

Band dads thwart high school shooting

Four fathers, part of the “Pearland Band Dads” group, were instrumental in restraining the suspect and stopping the high school shooting.

Among them were 13-year Air Force veteran Abram Trevino, 14-year Army veteran Adam Curow, 4-year Marine Corps veteran Efrain ‘Polo’ Castillo, and longtime Houston police sergeant Joe Sanchez.

When describing the moments leading up to their intervention, they recalled hearing cries of “Active shooter, active shooter” after which they rushed to the scene. “Me and Polo were with the same prop, dropped everything, and ran through the lobby door,” Sanchez explained.

When the Pearland fathers arrived, another man had already begun restraining the high school shooter. The fathers then joined him in subduing and disarming the elderly assailant.

Sanchez recalled the chaotic moments, saying, “I grabbed his arms while Adam took the gun out, and once the gun was removed from his hand, we had no handcuffs, so I took off my belt, made handcuffs, got his right arm secured, got his left arm secured.”

Another dad, Abram Trevino, reflected on the intensity of the event, saying, “It felt like an eternity, but I think it was like a minute or so.”

The man who initiated the disarming wishes to remain anonymous, according to local news station KTRK, but he did identify himself as an educator.

Sanchez credited the anonymous individual, noting, “I think that first gentleman who took him to the ground was a very vital part because he took him down, and then we were able to come and finish him off–subdue him and get him into custody.”

Hero dads to be honored with awards

A nonprofit organization, the One in Five Foundation for Kids, established after the tragic Uvalde shooting in 2022, announced that it plans to honor the four fathers who intervened with heroism awards.

Their statement read, “These individuals did not hesitate to jump into action to save lives, plain and simple. Yet, it cannot be underestimated, what these individuals did that day. They are heroes.”

Authorities later identified the unlikely shooter as 83-year-old Dennis Erwin Brandl, Jr. He reportedly informed officers after the arrest that he believed he had been chased by someone and feared for his and his wife’s life.

Brandl left his home in Spring, Texas, and ended up miles away in Pasadena, eventually entering the school.

Curow corroborated this detail, stating that when Brandl was restrained, the suspect repeatedly claimed, “Someone’s trying to shoot me, someone’s trying to shoot me.”

It is unclear if Brandl suffers from dementia or was having a mental breakdown at the time of the high school shooting.

The fathers involved scanned the area for any signs of danger or a possible second individual but found no such evidence. “It was all spectators, students, and parents,” Curow explained.

Suspect in high school shooting held on bond

On Monday, Brandl appeared in court for his arraignment, where a judge set his bond at $80,000 for the attempted high school shooting.

Prosecutors had initially requested a $500,000 bond, citing the dangerous nature of his actions and his potential threat to others.

Prosecutors also revealed indications that Brandl was allegedly looking for additional targets before being stopped. They demanded strict conditions such as GPS monitoring and house arrest if bond was granted.

Conversely, the defense argued for a lower bond given Brandl’s age, clean criminal record, and veteran status, having been honorably discharged from the Navy.

The court went with an $80,000 bond, imposing several restrictions. Brandl is banned from contacting the victim, Dwight Benjamin, and his family, as well as restricted from school premises within 200 feet of Pasadena Memorial High School.

Additionally, the court ordered that Brandl must not possess firearms, drugs, or alcohol while out on bond.

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