A man is home from the hospital after being shot during a band competition at Pasadena Memorial High School Saturday night.
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Dwight Benjamin posted a video from the hospital. His shoulder was wrapped up, covering his wound.
“It’s been a wild 24 hours, man,” Benjamin said. “I want to start off by saying that this shouldn’t be a time of hate or darkness or bitterness, it should be a time to be grateful. Everybody is here, I’m still here, everybody is safe. That’s what matters at the end of the day.”
Investigators said Benjamin did not know the shooter, 83-year-old Dennis Brandl.
According to a statement from Pasadena PD, Brandl told police that he was being chased and feared that he and his wife were in danger of being killed. He is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
On Monday, Brandl was given a bond of $80,000, and he is currently being held in the Harris County Jail and has been ordered a mental health evaluation.
Benjamin told KPRC2 he is a percussion technician with the Angleton ISD band. He and the team just won first place at the Texas Color Guard Circuit (TCGC) percussion competition at Pasadena Memorial High School.
“We ended up getting first place, which is just completely unexpected. Everybody was celebrating. It was just a really happy time. We were all just kind of standing, talking, laughing, just talking about what we’re going to do next week. That’s when it was just a big explosion. That’s when it happened,” said Benjamin.
Investigators said 83-year-old Dennis Brandl fired a weapon in the school. A bullet went through Benjamin’s shoulder. A group of Pearland dads and an off-duty officer helped tackle Brandl. Benjamin said he fell to the ground as he ran out the door. Benjamin said he did not know Brandl and has never seen him before. He said two students, Charlie and Makaylla, a first aide volunteer, rushed to his rescue.
“Charlie is 17. He picked me up and carried me across the street. Given that he was also anxious, and he could only hold me for so long, so he fell again. Charlie took his shirt off and wrapped it around. She (Makaylla) was keeping pressure on it, stopping me from going in and out of consciousness,” said Benjamin.
Benjamin was flown to the hospital. Pasadena police learned Brandl drove from his Spring home to Pasadena. They said he has no affiliation with the band concert and it’s unclear why he was there. He told police he was being chased and feared that he and his wife were in danger of being killed. Records show he has been ordered a mental health evaluation. He is being held in the Harris County Jail on an $80,000 bond.
“I just hope justice is served. I hope that he’s held accountable,” said Benjamin.
Pasadena Police said this is an ongoing investigation.
MORE INFO: $80K bond set for 83-year-old suspect in Pasadena Memorial HS shooting