An armed man is dead after gunshots were fired inside the Duncanville Fieldhouse Monday morning where approximately 250 young children were inside attending summer camps.
No children were harmed, the city confirmed Monday morning.
Duncanville police said they were called to the fieldhouse at about 8:43 a.m. on reports that an armed man was inside the fieldhouse where approximately 250 children between ages 4 and 14 were inside at summer camp.
Duncanville Police Public Information Officer Michelle Arias said Monday morning that officers arrived at the fieldhouse within two minutes and entered the building looking for the gunman.
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During a search of the area, police said officers found the man armed with a handgun in the gymnasium and exchanged gunfire. The man was shot by police and given medical aid before being transferred to a hospital where he later died.
Duncanville Assistant Chief of Police Matthew Stogner said Monday afternoon that the gunman entered through the lobby and had a discussion with a staff member. It was there, Stoger said, the gunman fired the first shot heard in the building.
Police have not revealed any information about the man or why he entered the building. A car in the parking lot was surrounded by crime scene tape Monday morning and was being investigated. It's not clear if the car belongs to the gunman.
An 18-year-old camp counselor who was working with about 40 of the children told NBC 5 they were about to play a game when a gunshot boomed above the commotion in the room.
The counselor, Naomi Rodgers, said a staff member then ran into the room and closed the door saying, "We have an active shooter right now!"
"We had to move them all across the room because the building is glass and we had to find a safe space," Rodgers said. "The shooter actually came to our door ... and he said if we didn't let him see who he wanted to see he was going to shoot the place up."
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Rodgers said the gunman then shot the glass door.
"The glass started to fall and I just started to pray then because that's all I could do," Rodgers said. "I know what happened at Uvalde ... and I was like this cannot happen. Not today. Not today."
Police said the preliminary investigation indicates the gunman was in at least one other area where children were present but none of them were targeted or injured.
The only injury reported is the fatal shot fired by police that killed the gunman.
After the shooting, the children taking part in summer camps were moved to a nearby recreation center while the shooting was investigated.
Duncanville Police said the police shooting will be investigated by the Texas Rangers.
