Pablo Castaneda, a 17-year-old Sterling High School student accused of stabbing a classmate, now faces potential additional charges after allegedly attempting to grab a deputy’s gun, prosecutors told media on Friday.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office stated that Castaneda, who has been charged with aggravated assault as an adult, tried to reach for a weapon while being escorted from the 351st District Court to a holding area. Deputies quickly restrained him, leading to a brief scuffle.
This incident occurred shortly after a judge lowered Castaneda’s bond from $100,000 to $50,000.
The initial stabbing occurred on September 18 during a fight between Castaneda and the victim, who survived the attack. A video of the stabbing, shared with media by another student’s mother, shows her son standing just a few feet from the incident. “My baby is traumatized,” she said at the time.
This on-campus violence is part of a string of recent school incidents in the Houston area. The Houston Independent School District (HISD) reported seven student arrests this week due to various threats.
The FBI’s Houston field office has also recorded over 30 reports of threats since the start of the school year.
According to data from the district attorney’s office, 127 criminal charges have been filed against minors for threats or carrying weapons on campus between August 2023 and now, with 85 of those involving weapons.
