A Tyler, TX stabbing has resulted in the death of a John Tyler High School teacher, Todd Henry, who reportedly was fatally assaulted by a student in a classroom on Weds, Sept 23.
The 52-year-old music therapist and musician whose name has variously been reported as Todd R. Henry, was a teacher of special needs students and had been with the Tyler Independent School District (ISD) for more than six years. The city is located approximately 90 miles southeast of Dallas.
According to details given at a press conference, Superintendent Randy Reid told media outlets that the fatal stabbing took place on Wednesday, Sept. 23 right before 9am local time at the John Tyler High School. The teacher was in a classroom with a paraprofessional (assistant teacher) and three students when the incident occurred.
The full text of the press conference statement is here on the Tyler Morning Telegraph Web site. It reads in part:
One student approached the teacher and assaulted the teacher with an edged weapon. The student was immediately subdued by the paraprofessional and escorted out of the room into the hallway and turned over to Tyler ISD Police Officers who were nearby.
A 911 call was placed and the teacher was transported to ETMC but died of his injuries. Reid went on to say:
“The situation was not gang related or racially motivated, nor was it associated with any other incident. All reports suggest that it was a random act by an individual student, however the district will have significant additional support and security at the campus for the foreseeable future.”
According to local TV station CBS 19, right after the incident, at approximately 10am local time, the school campus was put on lock-down and classes dismissed. The station further reports that the police arrested a 16-year-old student who was taken to Smith County Juvenile Attention Center.
Tyler Morning Telegraph and various media organizations report that with additional security on campus from uniformed law officers, classes are set to resume at the high school on Thurs. Sept. 24, a day after the tragic Tyler, TX stabbing of music therapist and teacher Todd Henry.