3 in custody after Katy ISD high school student kidnapped from campus

KATY, Texas – Three men are in custody after police said they kidnapped a Katy Independent School District high school student.

Katy ISD Spokesperson Denisse Cantu says at around 10:30 a.m. Thursday students informed school administrators at Mayde Creek High School about the kidnapping.

Nearly two hours later, a Katy ISD Police officer found the 15-year-old student, unharmed, a couple of miles away. The district says the student knows the alleged kidnappers.

Cantu says the three suspects got into the school through a "faulty door" during a passing period.

"We were kind of freaked out about it," student Serenity Hill said.

"It's really scary," student Alexis Jones said.

Even more concerning to some students and parents is the faulty door.

"I just think it's crazy because they're all about locking the doors and safety for us," Jones said.

The district sent this statement to Local 2 which read: "Administration and maintenance immediately assessed and repaired the door upon learning about it.  School personnel inspect all doors regularly so it is difficult to determine at what point this specific door became faulty as it is a high traffic entrance that provides hundreds of students access to and from the athletic field and complex throughout the day.  As an added precaution, school administrators are communicating to staff and students reminding them to report any doors that are not locking properly."

The district is just thankful for the students who informed school administrators about what was going on.

"It could have been a lot worse. They could have had weapons. We could have been in danger for our lives," Hill said.

The suspects have been identified as 17-year-old Jerrod Guinn and 17-year-old Elmer Leija Mendoza. They are facing felony kidnapping charges.

A third suspect, who is a minor, is also facing those charges.