Shooting suspect that prompted Socorro High School lockout in custody, police say

SOCORRO, Texas (CBS4) — Socorro High School was on a lockout Tuesday afternoon after a shooting was reported near the school.

The shooting took place near Socorro Road and Apodaca Road around 2 p.m.

Officials with the Socorro Police Department said two people were taken to the hospital and three suspects of interest were originally taken into custody.

On Wednesday, police said the suspected shooter was in custody and the victims are expected to recover. According to police, the case involves juveniles.

The lockout was implemented as a precautionary measure.

A lockout is when no one is allowed to go in or out of the school. The lockout was lifted and students were allowed to leave when school was dismissed.

Police said another shooting where a vehicle had its back windshield shot out a Walgreen's parking lot at the intersection of Americas Avenue and Alameda Avenue is related to the shooting on Socorro Road and Apodaca Road.

Police officers said if anyone has seen a group of men walking around Apocada Road and Socorro Road or may have information on the incident to call police at 915-858-6986 or 915-585-6983.

El Paso Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Tigua Police, SISD police and El Paso County Sheriff's Office assisted the Socorro Police Department. The investigation continues.

“I heard the shots. And then of course I found out my little sister’s school was on lockdown,” said Alfredo Qurouz.

“My parents texted me as soon as it happened. I think everyone’s parents texted them. They were real scared,” said Johnny Garcia, a freshman at Socorro High School.

“We got a random call saying that there was a lockout. But we didn’t know much, what was happening,” said Eros Woods. “Then I started seeing these social media posts that people were posting there was an active shooter near the high school.”

Just as Charles Renteria was arriving back at his home, which was now a crime scene.

“I had no idea what this was what I was going to be coming home to,” Renteria said.

Renteria came home after hearing of the lockout at the high school, where his younger brother is a student.

Renteria said that with no arrests being made in the shooting yet, he won’t sleep easy.

“That’s still scary because I know they’re looking for a group,” Renteria said. “And thinking that I have to go to bed here it’s like, I don’t know if these guys are walking around at night.”

Renteria said his family’s home has been robbed before, leading them to put bars on the windows.

But after the shooting, they plan on getting security cameras installed as well.

Even though the danger of the day may have passed, students say they’re still struggling with how unprepared they were to face violence so close to their school.

“I wasn’t prepared. All those practices, out of nowhere they just went blank,” said Woods.