A 16-year-old student was allegedly stabbed to death by a friend at a Texas high school following a dispute over a cannabis vape pen.
Andrew Meismer, a student at Ross S. Sterling High School in Baytown, roughly 30 miles east of Houston, died from his injuries last Wednesday morning.
Aundre Matthews, 18, a student at the same school, has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal attack.
Prosecutors allege the confrontation stemmed from Mr Matthews accusing his younger friend of stealing his THC vape pen.
Aundre Matthews, 18, has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal attack
|The 18-year-old is currently being held at Harris County Jail on a $3million (£2.22million) bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for January 7.
CCTV footage from that day captured the two teenagers walking into a classroom together at approximately 10.30am, appearing to be on friendly terms.
Mr Meismer subsequently requested permission from his teacher to visit the toilets, with Mr Matthews making the same request shortly afterwards.
According to investigators, Mr Matthews confronted the younger student in the bathroom about the missing vape pen, which he believed the 16-year-old had taken.
Andrew Meismer died from his injuries last Wednesday morning
|GOFUNDME
The pair then moved into an unoccupied laboratory classroom, where a female student also happened to enter.
She informed prosecutors that she witnessed Mr Matthews accusing Mr Meismer of theft and demanding $21 (£15.54) for the drug paraphernalia.
A physical altercation ensued, with the witness describing the 18-year-old striking the younger student before the fight escalated.
The girl fled the room screaming for assistance, alerting a teacher who discovered Mr Matthews allegedly choking a bloodied Mr Meismer.
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The incident occurred at Ross S. Sterling High School, in the suburbs of Houston, Texas
|The teacher managed to separate the two students, but the 16-year-old was pronounced dead at approximately 11.53am, less than an hour after the incident began.
Investigators determined he had died from a puncture wound to his neck consistent with a scissors injury.
Mr Matthews told prosecutors he discovered the scissors in Mr Meismer's pocket during a search in the bathroom, later using them during the classroom confrontation.
The accused claimed he acted in self-defence, fearing he would be beaten due to Mr Meismer's larger build.
Matthews is currently being held at Harris County Jail on a $3million (£2.22million) bond
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However, investigators noted that both teenagers appeared roughly the same size in the surveillance recordings.
Mr Matthews' defence lawyer, Gianpaolo Macerola, said his client had no previous criminal record and had cooperated fully with police.
"I need to see that surveillance video," Mr Macerola told FOX26. "I need to see what happened in terms of all the claims that were read in that probable cause affidavit."
Kim Luckett, a former teacher in the Goose Creek school district which includes Sterling High School, claims she raised concerns about Mr Matthews' behaviour before the tragedy occurred.
"I went and had a meeting with [the superintendent's] secretary and said things are out of control," Ms Luckett told ABC13.
She warned administrators directly: "Mark my word, if we do not get a handle on it as admin, somebody is going to die."
Ms Luckett resigned from her position months ago citing safety concerns, claiming Mr Matthews had already received multiple in-school suspensions.
"Schools should be providing safe places for our children," she said. "Goose Creek is not a safe place for our children right now."
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Meismer family
|GOFUNDME
Mr Matthews was booked into custody on Friday following two days of student demonstrations outside the school.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Meismer family, which has raised over $4,600 (£3,400) as of Wednesday morning.
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