GALENA PARK, Texas – Families in Galena Park are feeling uneasy after district officials say a stranger followed a middle school student home this week. The incident happened Monday afternoon near Woodland Acres Middle School, prompting administrators to issue a safety notice to parents.
According to a letter sent by Superintendent John C. Moore, Jr., a sixth-grade student reported being followed around 4:15 p.m. while walking home from campus. The student told officials the man appeared older, had a goatee, and was wearing blue skinny jeans and a black hoodie. He was reportedly standing by the fence of a nearby home and “appeared to be recording” as the student walked by.
The district says the man followed the student until they reached the vicinity of their home. No physical or verbal contact was made, but the child immediately told their parent, who then contacted the school.
The student made it home safely, but the encounter has left some parents unsettled.
“That’s pretty concerning and scary,” parent Danielle Garza told KPRC 2. “You don’t know who can actually have bad intentions and right now we’re living in a world where everything is really scary.”
Garza says this isn’t the first time families in the area have dealt with something like this. When her daughter attended Woodland Acres Middle School, she remembers a similar situation. District records show two other incidents in the past few years:
- February 2025: A student reported being followed home by someone in a gray SUV.
- February 2023: A man reportedly approached a student and asked if they “wanted a pair of shoes.”
Although her daughter’s high school is just a 20-minute walk from home, Garza said she isn’t taking any chances.
“I’d rather just take her,” said Garza.
In response to Monday’s incident, the district says additional police patrols will be assigned to the area for the next several days. Administrators are also urging parents to talk with their children about safety reminders, including walking in groups, being aware of their surroundings, avoiding strangers, and reporting anything unusual immediately.
The district emphasized that they are committed to student safety and encouraged families to contact their child’s school with any concerns.