Pasadena, Texas — A parent tackled a man who opened fire during a band competition at Pasadena Memorial High School on Saturday evening, as several others quickly helped disarm and detain him following the shooting. The suspect, identified as 83-year-old Dennis Erwin Brandl Jr., reportedly entered the school during the competition, which featured students from various districts, and discharged a small-caliber handgun, injuring one individual.
The victim, Dwight Benjamin, served as a percussion technical consultant for the Angleton Independent School District's participating band. He was struck in the shoulder and was taken to the hospital, where he is now reported to be stable. Authorities clarified Brandl was not affiliated with the competition, and after discharging his weapon, he was swiftly subdued by parents and school police.
According to Pasadena Police Chief Jerry Wright, "Within 60 seconds, a suspect was disarmed and they prevented any more shooting by this suspect." Eyewitnesses recounted the chaos of the event, with reports of the commotion echoing through the hall as parents and students fled, shouting fears of an active shooter.
A particularly brave group known as the Pearland Band Dads sprang to action. The fathers — Abram Trevino, Adam Curow, Efrain 'Polo' Castillo, and long-time Houston Police Officer Joe Sanchez — were at the event moving equipment when they noticed the panic erupting around them.
Sanchez described the moment, recalling, "People were coming out screaming, saying, 'Active shooter, active shooter.' So, me and Polo dropped everything and ran through the lobby door." He noted another man had already started to restrain Brandl, but he and the others quickly joined the effort. "I grabbed his arms, and Adam took the gun out. Once the gun was removed from his hand, I took off my belt, made handcuffs, and secured him."
Curow elaborated on their response, saying, "When the suspect was on the ground, he kept saying, 'Someone's trying to shoot me.'" They initially scanned the area for any potential second shooter, but saw only spectators, students, and parents. This back-and-forth indicated Brandl believed he was being pursued, but law enforcement later found no corroborative evidence for these claims.
Brandl, who has since been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, was taken by police following the incident. Authorities shared conflicting accounts of his state of mind; upon arrest, he expressed fears for his and his wife’s safety, claiming he believed he was being hunted. Local law enforcement and mental health experts are now evaluating his mental health at the time of the incident.
Residents and school authorities have expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the Pearland Band Dads. The One in Five Foundation for Kids, which came about after the tragic Uvalde shooting, plans to honor the fathers for their bravery during this emergency. "These individuals did not hesitate to jump to action to save lives, plain and simple," stated the foundation's representative.
The Pasadena Independent School District recognized the seriousness of the incident and is providing crisis counseling and counseling resources at local campuses. The district also confirmed the shooter did not have any connections with the event. Following the incident, additional security measures are now being considered for future school events to prevent similar occurrences.
Pasadena Memorial High School is largely known for its commitment to student safety and community engagement, which is now under scrutiny after this violent incident. Education administrators are reminding families of their established safety protocol to provide peace of mind at such community functions.
Despite the fear and chaos of the day, community members were able to rally together, accentuating the heroic efforts of the parents involved. Pearland ISD Superintendent Larry Berger praised their actions on social media, stating, "Could not be more Pearland proud. These fathers are heroes to all of us."
The future steps for Brandl are currently pending as he awaits his next court appearance. Bond has been set at $80,000 with several restrictions placed on him. It is unclear when or how the legal proceedings will continue, but the school community continues to digest the events of the shooting and the preventative measures required to avert such violent outbursts.
Incidents like this remind us how quickly significant gatherings can descend from celebration to tragedy, igniting conversations about gun laws, mental health resources, and school security protocols. The reverberations will likely extend beyond Pasadena, as communities nationally engage with the question of safety during school-associated events.