Tragedy Strikes Woodrow Wilson High School

They stood in silence in the cold rain, circling the spot where their teammate had lain the day before. Some bowed their heads. Some wiped their eyes. Others draped their arms around shoulders to offer comfort. One boy held a box of tissues.

Wornan Padilla Garcia, 18, was fatally shot in a park near Woodrow Wilson High School on Thursday afternoon. “He was a beautiful soul,” said Woodrow sophomore Gustavo Galvan, one of the dozens who gathered to pay their respects to Garcia. “He was the best of everyone.”

The Incident

Police have not said what led to the shooting, but students at the vigil said they heard Garcia was shot by a friend who was showing him a gun. Dallas police officials said a 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody and is facing murder charges. Police will not release the suspect’s name because of their age.

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The Victim

By midmorning, there were about a dozen prayer candles and two bouquets of flowers lying in the parking lot at Willis C. Winters Park, located across the street from the high school. As the morning wore on, more flowers arrived, and then two silver balloons for #21 — the number Garcia, a senior at Woodrow, wore on his soccer jersey.

Garcia played striker or winger, said Denzel Coipel, who coached Garcia last year on the junior varsity team. “He was a great kid. Positive attitude. The boys loved him.”

He was one of the school’s top players, Coipel said, and played on the varsity team this year. Garcia was in his second year at Woodrow, had moved here from Mexico, and planned to go to college, said freshman soccer coach Edwin Villatoro.

“He didn’t have any rivalries,” Villatoro said. “He was loved by everyone. And I never saw him angry, even in a tough game.”

Tributes to Garcia

Woodrow Wilson High School students Victor Macedo (center), and Eduardo Quiroz (left) walk away from a memorial for their teammate Wornan Padilla Garcia, 18 on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Dallas. Garcia was fatally shot the day before at a park across the street from Woodrow Wilson High School.

Angela Piazza / Staff Photographer

Garcia always cheered on his teammates, Villatoro said. At first, he had trouble with English and Villatoro would translate the coach’s instructions to Spanish for Garcia. As the months passed, Garcia overcame the language barrier. By the end, he was encouraging his teammates in English.

Jackson Hill, 18, brought one of the balloons. Garcia would always ask him how he was doing.

The two knew each other through soccer. “I loved him as a teammate,” Hill said. “I wish I had told him more.”

Support for Students

Inside the school, counselors supplied by Dallas ISD were on hand, and teachers received guidance from the district’s crisis intervention team on how to best help the students.

As lunchtime approached and rain fell even harder, one of the soccer coaches led the students back to the school.

Two boys saw the balloons had drooped to the ground. Before they went back inside, they raised #21 up again.

Conclusion

The tragic death of Wornan Padilla Garcia has left the Woodrow Wilson High School community in shock and mourning. Garcia was a talented soccer player and a beloved teammate, and his loss will be deeply felt. As the students and staff come to terms with this tragedy, they will need support and guidance to navigate their grief.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Wornan Padilla Garcia?

Wornan Padilla Garcia, 18, was fatally shot in a park near Woodrow Wilson High School on Thursday afternoon.

Who is the suspect in the shooting?

A 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody and is facing murder charges. Police will not release the suspect’s name because of their age.

How is the school supporting students?

Counselors supplied by Dallas ISD are on hand, and teachers have received guidance from the district’s crisis intervention team on how to best help the students.