Crandall, Texas — An 11 year old boy was shot in the leg Sunday evening on the playground of Opal Smith Elementary School, and another 11 year old has been arrested in connection with the shooting, according to the Crandall Police Department.
Officers were dispatched just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday to the school in the 3000 block of Fletcher Road in the Heartland community after a report of a shooting on the playground, police said. When officers arrived, they found an 11 year old suffering from a gunshot wound to the right leg.
First responders with CareFlite treated the child at the scene before he was airlifted to a children’s hospital in Dallas as a precaution. Hospital staff later determined the injury was not life threatening, and the boy was released and recovering at home as of Monday, Crandall Police Department Assistant Chief Lt. Ivan Elizarraras said.
Police took a second 11 year old into custody at the scene and recovered the handgun used in the shooting. That child is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence, according to Crandall PD. Investigators said the weapon did not come from the suspect’s home, and detectives are still working to determine how the child obtained it.
Both children attend Opal Smith Elementary and knew each other, police said. Investigators have described the incident as isolated between the two juveniles, with no ongoing danger to school staff or other students.
Crandall Independent School District notified parents Sunday night that classes would resume on a normal schedule Monday, with additional counselors available on campus to support students and staff.
“We’re thankful to the Crandall Police Department for their quick response and the care they showed in handling this situation,” the district said in a statement to NBC 5 DFW. “We’ll continue to support their investigation as needed. Our hearts are with the students involved and their families.”
Crandall Mayor David Lindsey called the shooting “heartbreaking,” according to the Daily Caller, and said the city remains committed to transparency as the investigation continues.
The investigation is ongoing. Police have not said whether the shooting was accidental or intentional, and the relationship between the two children beyond attending the same school has not been disclosed.
