Dallas — A tight‑knit high school community in East Dallas is grieving after 18‑year‑old Wornan Padilla Garcia, a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School and a standout soccer player, was fatally shot Thursday afternoon near a public park just steps from the school campus.
The shooting took place around 3:45 p.m. just outside Willis C. Winters Park, in the 100 block of South Glasgow Drive, a leafy area right beside the high school. Garcia was with classmates when a gun being handled by students discharged. He was rushed to a hospital but died from his injuries, school district officials confirmed.
Police say three Woodrow Wilson students were involved in the incident, but what role the other two played remains under investigation. A 16‑year‑old fellow student was taken into custody and is now facing charges in connection with the shooting. Authorities are not releasing the suspect’s name because of their age.
The high school was immediately placed on lockdown as law enforcement responded in numbers, with at least 10 Dallas police units canvassing the scene. Yellow crime‑scene tape blocked off nearby streets, and school buses were caught in traffic as parents and students watched anxiously.
Inside the school community, shock turned quickly to sorrow. Classmates described Garcia as a “beautiful soul” and key player on the soccer field, someone who brought energy and heart to the team. Friends lit candles at an impromptu memorial at the park, placing flowers and balloons in his honor.
Parents waited outside the school during the lockdown, tense and uncertain, grateful when their children were eventually dismissed safely. School officials made sure counselors were available to help students process the trauma. District leaders stressed that while the incident occurred off school grounds, every step was taken to protect students.
City and school leaders offered condolences to Garcia’s family, and thanked first responders and school staff for acting quickly under difficult circumstances. They urged the community to avoid speculation and to lean on one another for healing as the investigation continues.
