An armed gunman was shot dead by police on Monday after entering a facility hosting a youth summer camp in Duncanville, Texas, according to law enforcement officials.
No children, youth leaders, or police officers were harmed during the incident that occurred inside the Duncanville Fieldhouse. Duncanville is located just south of Dallas.
“Officers located a subject armed with a gun and engaged the subject,” Duncanville Police Officer Michelle Arias said, according to Fox News.
“The subject was struck and officers provided first aid. The suspect was transported to the hospital and later pronounced deceased,” the officer added.
Dispatchers reported receiving calls at 8:43 a.m. local time of a man with a gun inside of the building, NBC News reported. Approximately 150 children were attending the camp.
Children and staff were cleared from the building following the incident. Children were reconnected with their parents at the nearby Duncanville Recreation Center.
Statement from Duncanville PD PIO Michelle Arias. No kids hurt. https://t.co/mHlSbNNGZk pic.twitter.com/CilkRALIuO
— Ken Kalthoff (@KenKalthoffNBC5) June 13, 2022
Duncanville Mayor Barry Gordon told WFAA-TV that police responded within two minutes and had shot and killed the armed man within 10 minutes.
“Our officers did not hesitate,” Gordon told WFAA. “They did what they were trained to do and saved lives.”
The shootings also follow a concerning number of recent mass shooting events in Texas and nationwide.
Last week, Alabama police shot and killed an armed man in front of an elementary school.
“A school resource officer on site responded, talked with the man and called for backup. When a second officer arrived, an altercation ensued,” AL.com reported. “The suspect was then fatally shot.” No children or staff were injured during the incident.
In Texas, 19 elementary school students and two teachers were killed on May 24 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in a shooting involving an 18-year-old gunman, who was later killed by a Border Patrol officer responding to the call for help.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency as part of numerous efforts to help following the Uvalde tragedy.
“The community of Uvalde has been left devastated by last week’s senseless act of violence at Robb Elementary School and should not have to encounter any difficulty in receiving the support needed to heal,” Abbott said in a statement.
“This disaster declaration frees up the many resources available through the State of Texas and local jurisdictions to continue providing much needed support to all who were impacted and work in the community unencumbered by regulations unnecessary to respond to this tragedy. All of Texas stands with Uvalde, and we are prepared to provide support through all available means,” he added.
The previous week, a young man killed 10 people in a Buffalo, New York, grocery store before being apprehended.
The surge in recent shootings has led to calls for new gun safety measures from Congress. The Daily Wire reported Sunday that a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators announced that they have agreed to a framework to implement new gun control measures following the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, late last month.
“Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country,” the group of 20 Senators said in a statement.
“Our plan increases needed mental health resources, improves school safety and support for students, and helps ensure dangerous criminals and those who are adjudicated as mentally ill can’t purchase weapons,” the statement added.