Boy shot outside Arlington Lamar HS, identified by family and medical examiner

The name of the teenager shot dead outside Lamar High School in Arlington on Monday morning has been confirmed by family members and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.

On Tuesday, the medical examiner’s office identified the victim as 16-year-old Ja’Shon James Poirier of Grande Prairie.

Police said Monday afternoon that the victim was sitting near the steps outside the high school just before 7 a.m. when a classmate approached him with a gun and opened fire. Poirier was taken by ground ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, where he died around 8:40 am.

On Tuesday, Arlington police confirmed to NBC 5 that the accused shooter was carrying a shotgun and that bullets were found in his backpack when he was taken into custody.

According to the conclusion of the medical examiner, the cause of death of Poirier was gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

An underage girl, who was next to Poirier at the time of the shooting, was hit by a shot or flying fragments. On Monday, she was discharged from the hospital.

Poirier’s cousin went public with his name earlier in the day when he shared an online fundraiser accepting donations to help cover the cost of the teen’s memorial service.

The victim’s cousin described the teenager as someone who made friends easily and said he enjoyed spending time with his family, playing video games and going to sporting events.

Arlington police are continuing to investigate the shooting and have yet to confirm a motive.

The classmate accused of Poirier’s murder is a minor, identified only as a 15-year-old male. Arlington police said on Monday that the suspect has been charged with capital murder. According to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, if found guilty of capital murder, the juvenile can be sentenced to a maximum term of up to 40 years in prison.

Two vigils are scheduled for Tuesday evening to try to help the community heal.

The Church of the Holy Communion welcomed the public for a prayer vigil at 6:15 pm on Tuesday. The church is located across the street from Lamar High.

SCHOOL SAFETY

“Anxiety and anxiety is normal after a situation like this,” said AISD Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos.

The district chief wants to reassure students, staff and parents that they can expect increased security measures on Wednesday and in the coming weeks.

“We have security, we have directors, teachers who are focused on taking students in with counseling support, with class discussion to make sure questions are answered and also some of those feelings are handled,” he said. He.

Questions continue about police presence on campus following the morning’s shooting.

While classes start at 7:35 a.m., the injured and other students were at the school building by 7 a.m. Monday.

School officials were about to start their shift at 7 a.m. when shots rang out, police said.

NBC 5 asked Kavazos if the county would ask officers to start their shifts earlier.

“We appreciate it. I can tell you that the Arlington Police Department is doing a lot of patrols around our school, as seen yesterday, when the patrol actually intervened in this situation, because they were nearby,” Kavazos said.

According to police, it was a patrol officer who caught the shooter as he was fleeing the scene.

Two prayer vigils are scheduled to help the Lamar High School community in Arlington heal after Monday’s campus shooting that killed a teenage student. Another student has been charged with capital murder and more charges are pending.