Austin, Texas – Akins Early College High School has acknowledged that a recent altercation on campus is being investigated for potential gang connections. In a communication directed to parents and staff, Principal Carman De Leon confirmed that the incident, which occurred in the school’s cafeteria on August 25, has led to charges of rioting against several students involved.
Following the fight, all students were promptly evacuated from the campus as the Austin ISD Police launched an investigation. The letter outlined that the individuals charged face a class B misdemeanor for their involvement in the altercation.
The school has expressed its commitment to collaborating with the Austin ISD Police to uphold the safety of the campus community. In light of the incident, counseling services and licensed mental health professionals are being made available to students who may need support in processing their emotions related to the events they witnessed.
Campus Safety Discussion Rescheduled
A meeting originally planned for Wednesday night with the Austin ISD Police, aimed at addressing campus safety and educating families about gang activity prevention, has been rescheduled to September 17. This meeting will coincide with a Principal Coffee Chat.
Student Perspectives on Safety Concerns
Student Serenity, a junior at Akins, shared her observations regarding the frequency of fights at the school, noting that such incidents are not uncommon. “I would actually say pretty often, yeah. It happens regularly,” she stated, highlighting that discussions about gang affiliation often arise during confrontations.
Serenity expressed her concerns for safety during these altercations, recalling a past incident where she witnessed a weapon on campus. “When I’m in the area of when it’s happening, I don’t feel safe at all because I feel like it’s easy to let your anger take control of you,” she remarked. “I have seen one time when someone did, like I saw a gun, but they never pulled it out or anything like that.”
