CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Stabbing at John Tyler High School

Stabbing at John Tyler High School

A John Tyler High School teacher is fatally stabbed on campus today.

Tyler Police got the call around 9 o'clock this morning. The report, that someone had been stabbed at J.T.

52-year-old Todd Henry, a teacher, was stabbed at least twice, once in his neck and once in the chest. Sadly, Henry did not survive.

When CBS 19 arrived to John Tyler High School, just after 9 this morning, two East Texas Medical Center ambulances and a Tyler fire department truck were already there.

Moments later, a stretcher was brought out of the building, and loaded into the back of an ambulance.

"The district would like to announce that we did have an incident that occured in a classroom this morning."

In that classroom, 52-year-old Todd Henry was stabbed several times to his neck and chest.

"At this time the teacher has been transported to the hospital with serious injuries."

But Henry did not survive his wounds. He was pronounced dead, a short time later at ETMC in Tyler.

As police swarmed the campus, the school was put on lockdown.

"They made us run to the locker room to get locked in the locker room for two hours, 'cause they were scared what was gonna happen."

"We just got the announcement to lock all your doors and then not to let you out the classroom."

A terrifying morning for John Tyler junior, Cindy Zavala.

"Yesterday we had a rumble after school, but other than that it's usually little fights-- we didn't expect this to happen."

Shortly after 10 a.m. the announcement was made that students would be sent home early.

"The district plans to release the students early today as soon as transportation arrangements are made."

And as concerned parents flocked to John Tyler, tempers flared.

"Now we got this big fatality and you got a lot of concerned parents, and a lot of concerned citizens, very upset."

Police arrested a 16-year-old student in connection with the stabbing. He was taken to the Smith County Juvenile Attention Center.

TISD Superintendent, Dr. Randy Reid says classes, at John Tyler, will resume tomorrow.

They will be bringing in extra counselors to help students. Extra security officers will be brought in as well.

Not much information is being released about the 16-year-old in custody. Only that he had been in and out of the district.

As for the second ambulance called to J.T. around 10 o'clock this morning, the district says it was for an unrelated health issue.

Tyler ISD released more details just hours ago as to what exactly happened inside the classroom this morning.

"One student approached the teacher and assaulted the teacher with an edged weapon."

At the time of the incident Todd Henry, another adult a para-professional and three students were inside the classroom.

After the attack, the paraprofessional took down the 16-year-old suspect and turned the student over to Tyler ISD police.

Neither of the other two students were injured.

Tyler ISD Superintendent Randy Reid says the attack was unforseen.

"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," Reid stated.

Coming up tonight on CBS 19's Ten @ 10: We'll break down what security changes are in store for John Tyler.