A 16-year-old student, Andrew Meismer, was fatally stabbed at Ross S. Sterling High School in Baytown, Texas, on Wednesday morning after a confrontation with 18-year-old classmate Aundre Matthews.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office charged Matthews with murder following the incident, which reportedly began over a $21 vape, according to court documents.
Authorities say Meismer was critically injured during the altercation and airlifted to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his wounds.
Matthews was arrested shortly after the incident and booked into the Baytown Municipal Jail, with plans to transfer him to the Harris County Jail.
Investigators allege Matthews used scissors during the fight, stabbing Meismer in the neck, according to KHOU 11.
Reports from local media indicate Matthews had a documented history of violent behavior at Sterling High, including previous altercations with other students that prompted disciplinary action from the school.
Parents and classmates have expressed frustration that these incidents did not result in more stringent interventions, such as counseling, suspension or removal from campus, which they believe might have prevented the deadly confrontation.
In response to the stabbing, several students organized protests outside the school, demanding that administrators be held accountable for failing to address ongoing safety concerns and urging the district to implement stricter measures to protect students from future violence.
Community members have also voiced concerns about how information regarding student threats and prior incidents is communicated to parents, arguing that greater transparency could help prevent similar tragedies.
Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Randal O’Brien addressed the tragedy in a statement released Thursday, announcing that Sterling High School reopened with a full crisis response team available to support students and staff.
“After careful consideration, the administration decided that the best way to serve our students and faculty in the wake of this tragedy would be to come together as a campus community to provide in-person support,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien also responded to criticism regarding the district’s handling of Matthews’ disciplinary history, stating that administrators are constrained by state and federal laws governing student discipline and privacy.
“These laws exist to protect students and families, even when outcomes are difficult to understand in the aftermath of tragedy,” he said.
As the investigation continues, classmates have focused on honoring Meismer’s memory. Friends described him as outgoing, kind and someone who consistently tried to make others smile.
Many recalled his love of skateboarding, video games and making jokes to lift the spirits of those around him, the Houston Chronicle reports.
“He flipped frowns upside down,” said one longtime friend, remembering Meismer as someone who brought energy and warmth into every room.
Students gathered near the school entrance to create a memorial featuring candles, flowers and blue-and-silver balloons.
Several outlets reported that Meismer’s mother was present at the school, standing alongside students as they mourned together, according to Houston Public Media.
The family has asked for privacy and has not spoken publicly.
Matthews now faces the most serious charge available under Texas law for the death of a fellow student. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
The case has intensified broader discussions around school safety, disciplinary authority and whether warning signs are being adequately addressed before violence occurs.
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