A Texas high school student was fatally stabbed during a fight that began over a $21 THC vape pen, according to investigators.
The incident happened at Ross S. Sterling High School in Baytown, about 30 miles east of Houston, and later led to the arrest of 18-year-old Aundre Matthews. He was charged with murder in the death of 16-year-old Andrew Meismer.
On the morning of the incident, surveillance footage reportedly showed Matthews and Meismer walking into a classroom together around 10:30 a.m. They appeared friendly at the time.
Meismer, a sophomore, later asked his teacher for permission to use the restroom. A few minutes afterward, Matthews, a senior, asked to leave as well.
Prosecutors said Matthews followed Meismer to confront him about a missing THC vape pen that he believed the younger student had taken.
Investigators said Matthews searched Meismer in the bathroom and found a pair of scissors in his pockets. After that, the two left the restroom and entered an empty lab classroom. An unnamed female student also went into the room.
According to the student witness, Matthews accused Meismer of stealing his vape and told him he owed about $21. She said Matthews then hit Meismer, and the two began fighting.
The witness claimed Matthews started choking Meismer and that there was a large amount of blood coming from his neck. Frightened, she ran out of the room screaming for help, The Click2Houston reports.
Her screams alerted a nearby teacher, who returned to the classroom. The teacher allegedly saw Matthews choking a bloodied Meismer and stepped in to separate them. School staff then called for emergency help.
Meismer was rushed to the Texas Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:53 a.m., less than an hour after the confrontation began. Investigators later said he died from a puncture wound to the neck that was consistent with being stabbed with scissors.
Matthews later spoke with investigators and admitted that he and Meismer had been friends. He confirmed that he followed Meismer into the bathroom to confront him about the missing vape pen. Prosecutors said Matthews admitted searching Meismer and finding scissors in his pocket.
According to court records, Matthews said that after leaving the bathroom, the two went into an empty classroom where another fight broke out. He claimed Meismer pushed him away and punched him twice in the head with a closed fist.
Matthews said he became afraid because he believed Meismer was bigger and thought he was about to be beaten. Because of that fear, he said he grabbed the scissors and swung them.
Investigators noted that video footage showed both teens appeared to be of similar size. Matthews also admitted that he struggled to let go of Meismer during the confrontation but said he eventually released him. He denied stomping on Meismer’s head, which had been alleged in the investigation.
Matthews was arrested and charged with murder. He was held at the Harris County Jail on a $3 million bond, with his next court date set for January 7, according to online records. His attorney, Gianpaolo Macerola, said Matthews had no prior criminal history and had cooperated with law enforcement.
“I need to see that surveillance video,” Macerola told FOX26. “I need to see what happened in terms of all the claims that were read in that probable cause affidavit.” He added that he still needed to meet with Matthews, speak with his sister, and review the footage.
Matthews’ legal guardian is his 18-year-old sister, according to reports. His lawyer requested that his bond be reduced to $500,000, but the request was denied by the court.
A former teacher from the Goose Creek school district later spoke publicly about concerns she said she had raised before the fatal incident. Kim Luckett told ABC13 that she had warned administrators about increasing discipline problems at the school.
“I went and had a meeting with [the superintendent’s] secretary and said things are out of control,” she said. “Mark my word, if we do not get a handle on it as admin, somebody is going to die.”
Luckett said she had resigned months earlier due to safety concerns. She also claimed Matthews had previously received multiple in-school suspensions. “Schools should be providing safe places for our children,” she told the outlet. “Goose Creek is not a safe place for our children right now.”
The Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District confirmed Meismer’s death in a statement released after the incident.
Superintendent Randal O’Brien said, “Our hearts are heavy as we grieve this unimaginable loss. We extend our deepest condolences to the student’s family, friends, classmates, and all who are impacted by this tragedy.”
The district said Meismer had been transported to the Texas Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
In the days following the killing, students gathered outside the school to protest. Matthews was booked into the Harris County Jail the following Friday after two days of demonstrations on campus.
A GoFundMe page created by a family friend was launched to help support Meismer’s family. The page said his death had “created an immeasurable void and placed overwhelming emotional and practical burdens on the family as they begin navigating life after such a devastating event.”
The fundraiser had raised about $4,500 of its $9,000 goal. The funds were intended to help cover legal fees, food, and living expenses.
