8th-Grader Killed by Tex. Police Carried Pellet Gun

In a tragic turn of events, an eighth grade student was killed by Texas police. The boy was carrying a pellet gun and pointed it at officers. Officials state that the gun looked like a “real handgun.” When fifteen-year-old Jaime Gonzalez refused to lower the weapon, police officers fired three shots. At least two of the shots hit Gonzalez.

Before the confrontation with police, Gonzalez entered a classroom at Cummings Middle School, in Brownsville, Texas. The boy walked over to a boy and punched him in the nose. Gonzalez then revealed the pellet gun. Gonzalez is believed to be a student at Cummings Middle School. Family members have not made a statement in this case at this time.

Brownsville school district officials stated that administrators for the school called the police station at 8 am. The occurrence happened minutes before class was scheduled to begin.

Police tried to approach the boy, but Gonzalez was unresponsive. He refused to lower the weapon. At one point he aimed at the officers. Police took the signal as a potential threat and shot at Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The school was placed on shut-down before the shots were fired. The police officers involved in the altercation are on leave pending investigation.

The community is shocked by the death of the student and the ability for Gonzalez to brandish a weapon in the Middle School. Lockdown lasted two hours after the shooting. Teachers, students and administrators were transported to a nearby high school.