update on katy school shooting

[harrisonsdream]

Katy school steps up security after shooting


By HELEN ERIKSEN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Katy school officials have stepped up the security presence at Seven Lakes High School following a Tuesday incident where a 16-year-old student died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Katy ISD Police Department Capt. Robert Jinks said that in addition to the three security guards normally stationed at the school, a patrol officer is inside the school and another officer is patrolling the area around the school.

Students are allowed to bring backpacks into the school and grief counselors are being brought in to help them cope with the tragedy.

"I'm sure it's weighing heavy on the kids' minds," Jinks said.

School district spokesman Steve Stanford said feedback from parents and students on how the district is handling the shooting incident has been positive. He said after-school activities are going on as scheduled and attendance has not been affected.

"Most parents felt secure enough to return their children to school today," Stanford said.

Katy ISD administrators are conducting discussions about ways to improve school security measures and how to implement intervention strategies.

"We are focusing on meeting the needs of the child to determine what we can do to intervene early so we won't have to deal with a situation like we did yesterday," Stanford said.

Following the shooting just before noon Tuesday, the district placed the school on lockdown, not allowing anyone to enter or exit the building until released by authorities.

An official with the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office said autopsy results on the teen will be available Thursday.

[Cherrish]

It's so sad when schools don't have security measures in place already to prevent this kind of thing...I will never understand why some schools feel the need to WAIT until something like this happens, like it can't happen to THEIR school.

[harrisonsdream]

well he didn't shoot himself in the school he committed suicide. no one knew what was up. the school doesn't really have cops there anyway...they have rent-a-cops--those are the ones on a regular basis. the poor kid shot himself in the head...that is not the schools fault (not saying that school shootings are).

[Cherrish]

I'm not saying it's the school's fault at all....they had no way of preparing themselves for something like that.

[harrisonsdream]

exactly. i feel horrible for the school and the fact that he was a freshman breaks my heart. i've been there, i've wanted to kill myself so i can understand. especially if it was a school issue as to why he did it...which seems to me that since he did it on school grounds...then it makes me wonder what was really going on at the school