HUMBLE, Texas – A Humble ISD middle school student is facing a felony charge after being accused of bringing a gun to campus, and now, parents are raising concerns about how the situation was handled and when they were notified.
The incident happened Friday at Ross Sterling Middle School.
According to the district, administrators received information at the end of the school day that there may have been a weapon on campus and immediately launched an investigation with Humble ISD Police.
A search warrant was later executed at the student’s home, where investigators say a gun was recovered. The student was taken into custody and is now facing a felony charge of “places weapons prohibited.”
Under Texas law, bringing a firearm to school requires mandatory expulsion to a Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program.
Parent says daughter traumatized, questions delay in notification
Princess Jefferson, a Humble ISD parent, says her sixth-grade daughter was among the students who saw the weapon during 8th period band class.
“I thought she was joking honestly,” Jefferson said. “Like there’s no way there was a gun on campus and no one let me know.”
Jefferson says her daughter and other students ran to report the incident to a teacher, but she didn’t learn about it until her daughter got home from school.
She and other parents say they were not officially notified until Sunday evening, nearly 48 hours after the incident.
“The buses had not left yet,” Jefferson said. “I feel like everything should have been locked down at that point.”
Jefferson says her daughter is still shaken and afraid to return to school, and has asked about therapy.
Principal: ‘The system worked’
In a letter sent to families, Ross Sterling Middle School Principal Joshua Dawson said the situation was handled appropriately and without incident.
“Safety is our highest priority,” Dawson wrote. “We immediately launched an investigation, involving Humble ISD Police.”
Dawson said through that investigation, a student was identified, and law enforcement obtained a warrant to search the student’s home, where a firearm was found.
“Evidence was presented to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office,” the letter states. “The student now faces a charge of ‘places weapons prohibited,’ which is a felony. The student was taken into police custody.”
The principal also emphasized that the district investigates every tip and encouraged students and parents to report concerns to school officials or Humble ISD Police.
Coalition calls response a ‘catastrophic failure’
However, the Culture Commission Coalition is sharply criticizing the district’s response, calling it a breakdown in safety protocols.
In a statement, the group said a seventh-grade student brought a loaded handgun to campus and displayed it to younger students, making what they described as a threatening comment.
The coalition claims:
- No lockdown was initiated
- Students were sent back to class
- Parents were not immediately notified
- And the armed student remained on campus
“The school failed catastrophically at every turn,” the statement reads.
The group also said it took nearly 48 hours for the school to issue a statement to families and questioned why students who reported the incident were not immediately supported.
They are demanding answers, including why proper safety protocols were not followed and why parents were not notified right away.
District outlines safety measures moving forward
The district says it is continuing to prioritize safety and is expanding its use of weapon detection systems.
According to the district:
- Evolv weapon detection systems are already in use at all high schools
- Ross Sterling Middle School is scheduled to receive the system in the 2026–2027 school year
- All middle schools are expected to have the systems in place by the 2027–2028 school year
The student who allegedly brought the gun to school
Jefferson says she plans to meet with school leaders and is calling for more transparency and mental health support for students affected.
She and members of the Culture Commission Coalition are also planning a press conference to address their concerns and push for accountability.