Texas school reopens after deadly stabbing

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Texas school reopens after deadly stabbing

(Xinhua) 08:11, September 10, 2013

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HOUSTON, Sept. 9 -- A high school in northern Houston, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, reopened Monday amid heavy security after a gang-related fight left one teenager dead and three others injured last week, local media reported.

Normalcy started to return to the Spring High school following the deadly incident Wednesday when 17-year-old Joshua Broussard was stabbed to death, according to the real-time report of the Houston Chronicle.

The tragedy shook students and parents, and prompted the school to temporarily close its campus. Investigators blamed gang rivalry for the fatal stabbing. The suspect, also a 17-year-old teen who was not identified, was being held in jail on a murder charge.

Local TV footage showed students lining up for security screening before entering the school where portable metal detectors and hand-held wand security devices were used to make sure they didn't carry weapons.

At least 34 officers were said to be on duty inside and along the perimeter of the school, and access to the school was limited to two heavily-guarded entrances.

Under the school's new security regulations, students must carry clear or mesh backpacks and girls' purses must be smaller than a loaf of bread. Trained crisis counselors were also available for any students or staff members in need.

However, some students still remained on edge amid the tightened security. Nicole Edwards, a senior, told KHOU.com that many students were terrified and feared any similar incident will happen.

"I think things like this just shouldn't happen at school. I come to school to learn and to better my future and get my education," said Edwards. "I'm scared. Especially with the retaliation, there is a lot of fights. There was retaliation at the memorial service, so I am definitely scared to be here."

A memorial service for Broussard, the dead victim, was disrupted Sunday night when shots were fired outside a church. No injuries were reported and nobody was arrested. Police are investigating into the incident.

The school, which has about 3,000 students, has made no comment on the possible retaliation. Security was also beefed up Monday at the school's two other campuses as a precaution, media reports said.

（Editor：LiangJun、Yao Chun）