SAN ANTONIO – The Judson Independent School District has identified Emilee Hurst, 18, as the senior Judson High School student shot to death Monday morning in an apparent murder-suicide.
Selma police identified Mark Villarreal, 21, as the shooter.
Officers discovered the bodies of Hurst and Villarreal around 6:15 a.m. at a home in the 14000 block of Medusa, near the Forum shopping center.
An initial investigation revealed the deaths to be the result of a murder-suicide, police said. Another person who was inside the home at the time of the shooting escaped and called for help, police said.
Judson ISD spokesman Steve Linscomb said Villarreal is a former Judson High School student.
Linscomb said according to information from Selma police, the shooting "seems to be an old boyfriend, new boyfriend kind of a situation."
"The old boyfriend was very distraught over the way their relationship had gone and ended up shooting and killing the female student, who was a current student here. She was a senior. And then he turned the gun on himself," Linscomb said.
Friends and classmates of Hurst gathered Monday at Grace Community Church, where she attended. KSAT's Garrett Brnger described the gathering on Twitter as an emotional memorial.
Linscomb said Hurst was well-known on campus and just weeks away from graduation. He said she was a member of the dance team and the Future Farmers of America.
"(She) had her whole life in front of her. So it's just very, very sad," Linscomb said.
Hurst's dance teacher, Lanie Pile, said she was "truly a joy."
"She was disciplined, hard-working, kind, always in a fantastic mood, bubbly (and) friendly to all," Pile said.
Linscomb said Hurst's current boyfriend, who is also a Judson High School student, found out about her death while he was at school Monday morning and left abruptly.
Grace Community Church staff members said Hurst's boyfriend attended Monday's gathering at the church, where friends wrote messages to Hurst on balloons and released them.
Darren Stewart, the lead pastor of Grace Community Church, said she was a great person who served the church faithfully.
"It's been very positive and encouraging just to hear the students reflect on just the wonderful, wonderful person Emilee Hurst was. She was a selfless individual, who served here at the church faithfully. She watched over our third-graders here with great enthusiasm," Stewart said. "By far the students' feedback has just been how selfless, how giving, how generous and how she was always there for them. (She was) a real leader."
Judson High School response
Linscomb said there were additional counselors at school on Monday for staff members and students. He said they will remain there on Tuesday and perhaps longer.
The district said the teen was just weeks away from graduation and had hopes of continuing to study agriscience at the college level.
Emilee was a student leader who had been in the school’s AgriScience program all four years and was a consistent state contender with her career development and animal projects each year," a statement sent Monday evening said. "She was also a member of the Judson dance team that performed at football games and that competed at state and national competitions. Emilee was also a member of the Student Liaison group for the Judson campus that attended JISD Board Meetings as the eyes and ears for the student body.
Judson school principal Jesus Hernandez informed Judson parents about the incident in an email.
Early this morning, we lost one of our senior students, as she was the victim of a tragic incident at a residence. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of this situation," the email said. "Police are investigating the matter and JISD Counseling and Support Staff are on the JHS campus to help students, who may have known the victim. If your student is in need of emotional support, please direct them to our counseling offices on the campus. We are here to help.
Hernandez sent an email around 1 p.m. to announce that most school-related activities for Monday were canceled.
"In light of all that has happened and out of respect for our students, we will be postponing the Powder Puff Football game scheduled for this afternoon. Also, all afternoon non-UIL activities and club meetings will be cancelled for today," the email said.
Memorials for Hurst, whether they be on or off campus will be announced in the coming days, the district said.