In response to the May 18 school shooting at a Houston-area high school, His Eminence Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said the archdiocesan community would “unite to support and offer healing to those affected.” In a May 18 statement, Cardinal stated that “As a society, we must strive for a way to end such acts of senseless gun violence in our schools and communities.” The school shooting, occurring just three months after the shooting in Parkland, Florida, took place when a male shooter opened fire at a Santa Fe High School the morning of May 18 killing 10 people, most of the students. Another 10 were reported injured.
As reported by CNS, His Eminence Cardinal DiNardo remarked that “Our community and our local church joins an ever-growing list of those impacted by the evil of gun violence. I extend my heartfelt prayers, along with my brother bishops, for all of those who have died, their families and friends, those who were injured, and for our local community.” The cardinal said he was “deeply saddened” and that his prayer and the prayers of Catholics in the archdiocese are with the “victims and families of those killed and injured in this horrific tragedy.”
A suspect taken into custody was identified as 17-year old Dimitrios Pagourtzis and another person of interest also was detained and questioned. Explosive devices also were found at the school and off campus.
The shooting was the deadliest in Texas since a gunman attacked a rural church late last year, killing more than two dozen people.
