On Tuesday, a video‑captured hazing incident in Denton County ignited widespread outrage, prompting a swift investigation by Lewisville ISD.
The off‑campus event, which occurred on October 22 after a team dinner in Double Oak, involved a group of Marcus High School varsity football players.
According to parents, their underage son was stripped of his clothes, subjected to a racial slur, and fired upon more than 45 times with a pellet gun, resulting in eight hits.
While the footage was captured, NBC 5 elected not to publish the video.
Lewisville ISD’s investigation confirmed the incident met the definition of hazing and uncovered a history of similar misconduct by a specific faction within the Flower Mound Marcus High School football squad.
Texas State Representative Ben Bumgarner, who represents District 63, said, “I was just shocked,”.
Bumgarner learned of the incident when NBC 5 aired the report on Tuesday and promptly contacted LISD Superintendent Dr. Lori Rapp.
He declared his intention to spearhead a change initiative, stating, “It feels like we have a culture problem here, and when you have a culture problem, it’s a top‑down situation.”.
After the report, Bumgarner, along with three other elected officials, requested detailed information from Superintendent Rapp.
Dr. Rapp responded via email, providing a summary of findings and disciplinary actions taken, though specific punishments were not disclosed.
In her statement, Dr. Rapp explained, “Federal privacy laws prevent us from discussing individual student discipline, but in general, consequences for hazing or bullying under the LISD Student Code of Conduct may include temporary expulsion from campus and ineligibility for semester events and ceremonies.”.
She added, “Should criminal charges be filed, the district is required to implement additional disciplinary measures outlined in the LISD Student Code of Conduct and Texas Law.”.
Dr. Rapp emphasized that the well‑being of the harmed student is a priority for the district.
Bumgarner expressed solidarity, saying, “I hope he knows that he has the community behind him, that people see what has happened, that he is not a pariah or a stigma, that people are in his corner and we all back him.”.
The incident also drew attention from local law enforcement; Double Oak police informed NBC 5 earlier in the week that a criminal investigation remains underway, though they declined to comment further.
Lewisville ISD’s corrective action list recommends that future team dinners take place on campus and that staff supervision be increased to prevent recurrence.
Parents who spoke to NBC 5 described the experience as a profound violation of dignity, stating, “Anybody that saw the video, that young man was tortured. He was stripped of his humanity.”.
The community’s reaction has highlighted the urgency of addressing hazing culture, with officials calling for top‑down reforms and increased accountability.
The case underscores the role of school districts in safeguarding student welfare and enforcing conduct codes, especially when allegations involve violence and discrimination.
As investigations continue, stakeholders await further details on disciplinary outcomes and potential legal actions, while the affected student receives support from district officials.
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