Former FBI special agent is dead after shooting at Franklin High School

Update: The FBI El Paso Office confirmed that Julio Cordero, a former special agent, was the man who died.

DHS sent the following statement updating their progress on the ongoing investigation.

"On Aug. 22, 2024, the El Paso Independent School District Police (EPISD) requested assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Texas Rangers to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred outside the Franklin High School Magnet Center.

This investigation is active and ongoing and no further information is currently available. Once complete, the case will be referred to the El Paso County District Attorney."

Elizabeth Carter
Media and Communications Lieutenant
Texas Department of Public Safety – El Paso

A spokesperson for El Paso ISD sent the following statement on behalf of the district as an update on the situation.

“The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members are of paramount importance to El Paso ISD, and our police department is committed to maintaining the highest standards of conduct and safety. As the investigation into the recent shooting at Franklin High School is ongoing, we are unable to comment on specific details. We are fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation. We are committed to ensuring that all protocols are followed rigorously and that our officers are well-prepared to handle any situation with the utmost professionalism.”

EPISD

Update: EPISD Police said there were some, cross-country students that were on campus at that time of the shooting.

ABC-7 spoke with team member, Sienna Zarate who said before their usual run they started with workouts on the field. That's when she heard two shots ring out. 

"At that moment, my coach recognized that it was a gunshot, and he told all of us to go into our locker room," said Zarate. "For me, there wasn't an initial panic that set in, but when we were going to the locker room, people started running. So of course some people had some panic."

Lights off and locked inside the locker room for safety, she said she was happy with how things played out and said things could have gone differently. 

"I thought given the situation, my coach handled it very, very well, like he was immediately concerned with our safety," she said.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A man in his 50s is dead following a shooting involving school district police officer at Franklin High School.

El Paso Independent School District officials say that the officer was investigating an incident, Thursday morning.

They also state that the incident does not involve any students.

Classes at Franklin have been canceled for the remainder of the day.

This is a developing story.