Across the street from MacArthur High School in Irving, the same scene repeats daily as students spill into the nearby shopping center, bringing violence, drugs, and vandalism.
Business Owner’s Perspective
“They’re just getting crazier and crazier,” said Jose Pulido, owner of Select Tattoo Studio. Pulido says more and more students continue to take over the shopping center that’s home to his business and several others. “They fight, there is blood involved, there is guns, there’s drugs. We have seen everything,” Pulido added.
Pulido said the violence and vandalism have escalated for the past four years and have now reached a tipping point. “They broke my window one time because they were fighting one kid, pushed the other one,” he recalled.
Police Response
Irving Police announced on Friday that they have increased patrols in the area and are working with school resource officers to identify the students involved in criminal activity captured on video. The officers may also face school disciplinary action.
“Somebody’s going to get hurt, and then they’re going to say, well, nobody told us. Sounds like they’ve been told,” Josh Journeay, a local business owner, said after witnessing another shop’s windows smashed during his first visit to Pulido’s tattoo shop.
Protective Measures
Pulido has set up an alarm system on his phone that goes off when students are on his property. He hopes to see more law enforcement around to send an even louder message. “We can have a police officer here in at least for a month, you know? So they see that this is not a place where they can do their crazy stuff,” Pulido said.
Current Status
NBC 5 has reached out to Irving ISD for a comment but has not yet heard anything back at the time of publishing. The situation remains tense as the community watches the escalation of daily incidents.
Key Takeaways
- Violence from MacArthur High School students has escalated over four years.
- Irving Police have increased patrols and are collaborating with school resource officers.
- Business owners like Pulido are implementing personal security measures and calling for more law enforcement presence.
The ongoing conflict highlights the need for coordinated action between local businesses, law enforcement, and the school district to restore safety to the shopping center and surrounding area.
