Memorial High School has faced several serious threats and acts of violence over the past year, prompting renewed concerns about campus safety.
Feb. 1, 2025: Off-duty HPD officer stops gunman at Pasadena Memorial HS band competition
An elderly man opened fire inside the auditorium at Pasadena Memorial High School during a Texas Color Guard Circuit percussion competition. Police say he walked into the event and fired a small-caliber handgun, striking a man in the shoulder. The victim was airlifted to a hospital and is expected to survive.
A good Samaritan quickly tackled the shooter. He was later identified as an off-duty Houston Police Department officer attending the event. Several attendees helped restrain the suspect as security and Pasadena ISD police moved in.
The gunman was identified as 83-year-old Dennis Erqin Brandl Jr. Pasadena police say Brandl claimed he believed he was being chased and feared for his safety, though investigators have found no evidence supporting that statement. Officials also confirmed Brandl had no connection to the competition or the school.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office accepted a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and Brandl was taken into custody without bond. Investigators initially said Brandl died after suffering from a medical emergency while in custody. It was later confirmed that he died of “natural causes.”
Feb. 28, 2025: Two students injured in shooting near Pasadena Memorial High School
A shooting near Pasadena Memorial High School injured two students after a planned fight escalated into gunfire. Police arrested 19-year-old Damian Alexander Saiz, who is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Saiz was not a student at the school.
The shooting happened across the street from the campus shortly after dismissal. Pasadena police arrived within minutes and found two students hurt. One student had been shot in the chest and was airlifted to the hospital with a collapsed lung and a broken rib. The second victim was treated for a gunshot wound to the arm.
Investigators say a group of boys met in a parking lot for a fight that had been arranged ahead of time. Witnesses told police the confrontation quickly turned violent when one person pulled out a gun and fired several shots into the group.
Detectives used Flock cameras and witness video to track down the maroon Chevrolet Silverado involved in the getaway. Court records say Saiz climbed into the truck after the shooting and threatened the driver with the gun when he refused to help him escape. The truck eventually stopped in a field, where Saiz got out and walked away. He was later identified and taken into custody.
November 2025: Two Pasadena Memorial HS students suspected of planning ‘mass shooting’ at school
Two Pasadena Memorial High School students were arrested late last month after investigators say they uncovered a plan to carry out a mass shooting at the campus, according to Harris County court documents.
Emilio Lopez, 18, is charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder. Prosecutors say he worked with another student, a juvenile, who is also facing charges that were not detailed in public records.
According to the documents, a student told her parent she was frightened after receiving a screenshot that showed a violent text exchange between Lopez and the juvenile suspect. The messages described plans to use shotguns, ammunition and other weapons in a coordinated attack.
In the texts, Lopez allegedly wrote that he was “tempted” and that he had “2 shotguns and plenty of ammo.” The juvenile responded that the attack needed to be “planned strategically” and referenced an AK-12.
Investigators spoke with Lopez’s father, who said the firearms inside their home were secured. Records show Lopez was previously arrested as a minor in 2023 in a family violence case.
Lopez posted a $100,000 bond and was released from jail. His next court date is set for January 7, 2026.
Pasadena ISD said parents were notified during Thanksgiving break and confirmed there is no active threat to the school. The district said it is continuing to cooperate with authorities and thanked local and federal agencies for their response.