Copperas Cove ISD lifts lockdown after off-campus shooting near high school

Copperas Cove ISD lifted its lockdown Wednesday morning after an off-campus shooting near Copperas Cove High School prompted a rapid police response, a brief campus lockdown and a controlled release of students already on site.

Copperas Cove police said officers responded at about 8:09 a.m. to the 700 block of South 13th Street, not far from the high school and Main Street, where they found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim, later identified as Theodore Lee Snead, was taken to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and was reported in stable condition. Later reporting said his injuries were believed to be non-life-threatening.

Investigators initially believed the shooter might be inside a nearby residence and sent the CCPD SWAT team to clear the home. That search did not turn up a suspect. Police later said Davarious Jashawn Lee was found in the area of the shooting and arrested without further incident. A Glock 20 handgun was reportedly recovered. The CCPD Criminal Investigation Division continued handling the case.

Copperas Cove High School was placed on lockdown at 8:45 a.m., then shifted to secure-in status about 15 minutes later. Three other district facilities, the District Service & Training Center, Fairview/Jewell Elementary and the CCISD Child Nutrition office complex, were also placed on secure status at police recommendation. District officials said the steps were taken out of an abundance of caution and stressed that nothing was occurring on campus.

Parents were notified as the response unfolded, and students who were already on campus were released through a controlled process. All activities at Copperas Cove High School were canceled for the rest of the day, even though the school year had ended and students were still there for activities. By late morning, all restrictions had been lifted, and the district returned to normal operations after officers confirmed the threat had moved off campus.