HARRIS COUNTY – Following the school shooting in Santa Fe last week, authorities report that there has been an increase in threats recorded across many schools in the county.
At least seven school districts in the area have had to deal with threats, by searching for senders, sending additional police, and hardening security features. Districts with problems included Clear Creek and Huffman, where students had guns, Cleveland where a student had a gun replica, and YES Prep West, Crosby, La Marque, and Aldine where threats were recorded.
The Harris County District Attorney’s office has reported that they filed charges against 24 students since last week’s shooting at Santa Fe. Most of these were against kids whose ages were from 12 to 16, but some were as young as 10.
John Jordan of the DA’s office said that it was imperative that these cases be filed, to protect other teachers and students. If a potential problem is seen, it must be reported and investigated, he said, “because you never know who the next shooter is going to be.” In Aldine, channel 26 Fox new’s Randy Wallace reported that a student, Warnesha Crawford, had received a threatening text from a fellow student that she claimed had been bullying her. She identified the student to school authorities, but her mother claimed they did not take the appropriate action, and the sender was still in school.
Aldine ISD officials issued a statement saying they were aware of the situation and were handling it according to the “student code of conduct.” Fox26 said they were attempting to determine where the texts originated. The AISD statement said “Aldine ISD Police are conducting an on-going investigation related to this incident.” Reportedly the Police have confiscated the cell phone of the sender.
Aldine ISD also said they had installed metal detectors in all intermediate, junior and senior high schools entrances. Schools also have secure vestibules, he said.
Other security measures that have been implemented at other campuses include the banning of backpacks, and a ban on trench coats and other heavy clothing that could potentially conceal weapons.
Recommendations from Governor Abbott include the use of metal detectors at school entrances.