Northwest ISD says another bullet found at middle school from nearby gun range, source under investigation
A Northwest ISD middle school is making some changes to all of its outdoor activities and bus drop-off after a bullet was found on a tennis court. This comes amid the district's lawsuit against a nearby Northlake gun range after bullets damaged the middle school over the summer.
On Wednesday, Superintendent Dr. Mark Foust sent a letter to Barksdale Middle School parents, saying a bullet was found by a coach on the tennis courts at the end of the school day and that officials were investigating the incident.
As a result, Foust told parents that buses will temporarily drop students off on the west side of the building, and other adjustments will be made to outdoor activities so they take place at the front of the school or inside.
CBS News Texas spoke to a parent on Thursday, who said his son is afraid to go back to school.
"This whole thing is just crazy, my son is scared to go to school... I'm scared to leave him there because I don't know what will happen, and no parent should feel that way," said Nick Kourt.
The newly constructed campus sits about a mile north of the Quail Creek Gun Range, which the district sued in Denton County in August, alleging negligence for failing to "take reasonable measures" to prevent bullets from striking the school.
The lawsuit alleges bullets fired from the gun range previously damaged the campus in two separate incidents since May.
"This is the third incident, two before the school opened, now one has been found on the tennis courts... How many warnings do we need? I don't want this to be a new story again, where somebody got hurt and injured. I want the attention now to stop it," said Kort.
A temporary restraining order barring guns capable of reaching the school from being used was extended in September.
"Quail Creek Gun Range has an obligation to keep bullets within the confines of its property, and a temporary restraining order remains in effect against the use of guns on its property that are capable of firing bullets that can reach our school," Foust said in a statement.
The next hearing on whether to extend that order again is scheduled for Nov. 5.
The district said it continues to work toward reaching a resolution for the long-term safety of the community and is exploring all available legal options.
"Ultimately, things are going to cost money, right? The school district spent $115 million building this school, and I don't care how difficult it is to move the students; those are problems adults can figure out. My kid's life, students' lives, who go to that school, shouldn't be anything to gamble with," Kort said. "I don't think we need to wait until a child gets shot before someone takes this seriously."
CBS News Texas has reached out to the gun range for comment.
