Classes resume at Texas school after teacher slain
TYLER, Texas (AP) — Flowers adorned a flagpole Thursday at a Tyler school where classes resumed under tight security a day after a teacher was fatally stabbed.
Uniformed law officers were outside John Tyler High School, where special education teacher and music enthusiast Todd Henry, 50, was attacked in a classroom Wednesday and later died.
A 16-year-old male student remained in custody.
U.S. and Texas flags were flying outside the school. Some bouquets with cards encircled the base of the pole.
"To a man that had a heart for the kids and music. May you rest in peace and may God be with you," said one card, signed by three people.
Westwood Baptist Church, across the street from the high school, was flying its U.S. flag at half staff.
The Tyler Independent School District, on its Web site, described the fatal stabbing as an "unforeseen isolated occurrence" and a "random act by an individual student." The school had counselors on hand Thursday.
The student approached Henry around 8:50 a.m. Wednesday and stabbed him in the neck with a sharp object, District Superintendent Randy Reid said. A teacher's aide and two other students were in the classroom, and the aide subdued the suspect.
Police did not offer a motive in the slaying.
Smith County sheriff's deputies were posted in the parking lot of the high school Thursday morning. Other uniformed officers were seen along the sidewalks as students entered the building.
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