Students from Arlington High School were shocked after discovering a fellow classmate was shot and killed by another teenager last week.
A few days prior to his murder, Texas sophomore student Samuel Reynolds, 16, broke up a bullying incident involving another teenager and a younger boy.
According to Arlington Police Lieutenant, Christopher Cook, the fatal shooting happened on Thursday around 4:30 pm when Reynolds returned home to his apartment complex.
Lt. Cook said:
"After he broke up the fight, he started having trouble with the suspect."
The suspect—whose name was unreleased and believed to be between 13 and 15-years-old—followed Reynolds and shot him. The murder was caught on surveillance cameras.
You can watch the WFAA news report here.
The suspect—who also resides in the same complex as Reynolds—denied being involved with the shooting, but the security footage proved his identity was linked to the murder.
Lt. Cook told reporters Friday:
"He [suspect] pulls out a handgun from the rear part of his pants he was wearing, points it at the victim and fires one round."
"We did recover one spent shell casing. It's a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun."
NBC 5 said that Reynolds' mother declined to be interviewed on camera but did say she warned her son to stay away from the suspect after the bullying incident.
She described Reynolds as someone who was "compassionate" and "caring."
On Friday, counselors were available to the students at Arlington High as they tried to cope with the tragic loss.
Sophomore Malyque Flood, who did not know Reynolds well, was shocked and offered his sympathies to the family.
"It makes no sense at all. I feel real sorry and upset about what happened and am open to any situation or conversation that they need. No mother, no parent should go through that."
Reynolds' friend and fellow student, Russell Laniyan, said:
"I think this just encourages us to go out and to be like Sam and to follow the example that Sam has set for us."
As of Friday, Lt. Cook said the weapon has not been recovered and police are canvassing the area.
It remains unclear where the suspect obtained the firearm.
Lt. Cook expressed his frustration over children getting involved with gun violence.
"That's something we want answers for. We are sick and tired of children in our community coming into contact with firearms and possessing them and using them in these types of manners."
"If an adult has provided this firearm, you can certainly bet that we're going to pursue them vigorously because firearms and kids – they just don't mix."
The young suspect was not a student of Arlington High School but attended a different school in the same district.
He was transported to a juvenile detention center and faces a murder charge.
The juvenile court will decide if the suspect will be tried as an adult or child.
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