HOUSTON, TX — A 17-year-old Westbury High School senior was shot and killed outside the Houston campus Friday morning after what police described as a dispute involving a group of young people. The student, LePaul Warren, was taken to the hospital after life-saving measures were performed at the scene, but he died from his injuries later that day.
Houston police said officers responded at about 8:21 a.m. on Sept. 25 after reports of shots fired outside the school. By that evening, investigators had arrested another 17-year-old male suspect. Police said the suspect was not enrolled in Houston Independent School District schools and may face adult charges.
Police say the shooting followed a dispute near a wooded area by the school
Houston Police Department Chief J. Noe Diaz said investigators were told a group of young people had been hanging out near the school when someone came out of a wooded area near another complex and words were exchanged. According to Diaz, someone then produced a handgun, and Warren was shot.
The fatal encounter happened just outside Westbury High School, which is in southwest Houston. Police have not said what led to the dispute or identified the relationship, if any, between the two teenagers. They also have not publicly said whether Warren and the suspect knew each other before the shooting.
How investigators tracked down the suspect by nightfall
Diaz said officers focused on a resident they believed could be involved and used on-the-ground surveillance to track the teen after he left the area. Investigators followed him until they were able to positively identify him, and he was arrested later that evening.
Police also recovered a weapon when the suspect was taken into custody, though investigators have not said whether that weapon was the one used in the shooting. The suspect’s name has not been released publicly. Authorities have also not said whether formal charges had been filed as of the time of the announcement.
LePaul Warren died despite emergency aid at the scene
Westbury student LePaul Warren was described by local outlets as a senior at the school. Police said officers and emergency responders provided life-saving measures at the scene before he was taken for further treatment. He did not survive.
One witness who was Warren’s friend told KHOU 11 that he hid behind a car after seeing Warren fall and wanted to help him survive. That account underscores how quickly the shooting unfolded and how little time witnesses had to react before the scene turned into a medical emergency.
Westbury High School cancels homecoming events after the shooting
The shooting forced Westbury High School to cancel its homecoming dance scheduled for Sept. 25 and a homecoming game planned for the following day. The cancellations came as police continued their investigation and the campus community dealt with the shock of losing a student in broad daylight.
Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles said the district was heartbroken by the loss and extended condolences to Warren’s family, friends, classmates, teachers and the broader Westbury community. His statement said counseling and additional support were being provided for students and staff.
School and district leaders promise counseling and support for students
The district’s response centered on helping students and staff cope with the immediate aftermath. Miles said support would continue in the days ahead, signaling that the effect of the shooting on Westbury would not end with the arrest made Friday night.
Police, the district and the school had not immediately answered follow-up questions from reporters on Saturday, Sept. 26, including questions about the suspect, the investigation and any possible next steps in court. For now, the case remains focused on the fatal encounter outside the school and the community’s effort to recover from it.
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