A group of quick-acting fathers, known collectively as the Pearland 'Band Dads,' took down a gunman at Pasadena Memorial High School during a weekend band competition. KHOU 11 News reported that the men, with backgrounds in military and police service, subdued the suspect who had opened fire, injuring one man.
The assailant was identified by the Pasadena Police Department as 83-year-old Dennis Erwin Brandl, Jr. According to details provided by Click2Houston, Brandl fired a small-caliber handgun, striking a man in his shoulder. An off-duty Houston Police Department officer, who was attending the Texas Color Guard Circuit (TCGC) percussion competition along with the Pearland Band Dads, was among those to tackle the gunman.
Joe Sanchez, one of the 'Band Dads' and a Houston police sergeant, detailed how they managed to restrain the gunman. "I grabbed his arms while Adam took the gun out, and once the gun was removed from his hand, we had no handcuffs, so I took off my belt, made handcuffs, got his right arm secured, got his left arm secured," Sanchez told KHOU 11 News.
Adam Curow, an Army veteran and fellow Band Dad, played a significant role in disarming the shooter. "I grabbed his wrist and was tackling to get the handgun free. I finally got it free," Curow recounted. He further made sure the weapon was safely secured, away from any potential further use. Meanwhile, the injured man was tended to by Ashley Yen, the Director of Color Guard for Kempner High School, who held pressure on the gunshot wound and provided comfort until help arrived, as per her interview with KHOU 11 News.
The community has praised the Band Dads for their decisive action. Clay Jasper, Director of Percussion at Pearland High School, witnessed the takedown and expressed his admiration, stating, "It was incredible but also not unexpected, because, I say this all the time to everybody, but the Pearland community is built different, and all these band parents are just different, and they’re incredible. They’re incredible role models for their children, and myself," in an interview obtained by KHOU 11 News.
In response to the incident, Pasadena Independent School District will provide crisis counseling and additional security. The suspect is currently awaiting transfer to Harris County Jail with charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, as confirmed by police and reported by Click2Houston.
