Teenager wounded in Texas school shooting released from hospital

A teenager who was seriously injured in a shooting a week ago in the cafeteria of Italy High School has been released from the hospital.

Noelle “Cricket” Jones, 15, was flown to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas after she was shot in the neck and abdomen on Jan. 22.

Her father first notified the Italy ISD about her release from the hospital, according to a district Facebook post Monday.

“The family is currently staying in an undisclosed location. They have asked to receive no visitors unless approved directly by the parents. They have requested no contact with the media,” the post said.

“They are optimistic and excited about her recovery. They have asked for the community to continue praying for her, the school and the community.”

The shooting happened just before 7:55 a.m. Jan. 22, while students were gathered in the cafeteria before the first bell.

The 16-year-old boy who shot Jones and then fired at another student remains in custody after a hearing in a packed courtroom last week in Waxahachie.

Ellis County State District Judge Cindy Ermatinger ordered the boy to remain in custody for at least the next 10 days until another hearing on Feb. 7.

The teenager is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

“Instead of going to class, the 15-year-old girl gets shot twice, then the suspect, in a trench coat, shoots at another student,” an assistant prosecutor said during the hearing Wednesday.

“Then the shooting only stopped because he ran out of ammunition,” she said.

It’s not clear how many shots the boy fired before fleeing.

He was captured just off campus.

A .380 caliber handgun was recovered at the scene.

Classmates say the boy was involved in previous violent incidents including a stabbing at a ballpark.

"He's had his breakdowns throughout the years,” student Alejandro Garcia told a Dallas TV station.

“This year, he's been pretty calm… hasn't done much. But last year there was an incident where he was throwing scissors and computers at people.”

Other students have confirmed the incidents in which scissors and a computer were thrown.