Texas School Employee Faces Felony Charge Following Tragic Death of Student with Autism

In Harris County, Texas, a school behavioral specialist is under scrutiny, charged with a felony following a distressing incident involving a student with autism. This incident occurred at a school in Cypress, near Houston, as revealed by court records from Harris County.

Donald Cameron Perkins, the specialist in question, is currently in custody. He is slated to appear in front of a Harris County judge this Friday, where he will confront a charge of felony injury to a disabled child.

The unfortunate event allegedly took place a week ago at the Carlton Pre-Vocational Center in Cypress. Details from court documents outline the sequence of events leading up to this tragedy.

Surveillance footage, obtained by the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Police Department, reportedly shows the non-verbal student putting something in his mouth while on a school bus. This video evidence plays a pivotal role in the ongoing investigation.

When the child entered a classroom, a school detective said, video showed Perkins allegedly push the child from behind, causing him to fall to the floor. Investigators said that push was not considered reasonable discipline.

About a minute after the child sat down, he began choking. Perkins attempted the Heimlich maneuver but was unsuccessful. The student was taken to a local hospital, where he died days later.

The district responded quickly after learning what happened.

“Upon learning of the allegation, the district took immediate action to remove the staff member and place the individual on administrative leave,” the district said in part in a statement.

The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District said it is cooperating fully with law enforcement. 

The full statement from the school district reads:

“Student safety is our top priority. The district does not tolerate conduct that compromises the safety of our children, and we thoroughly investigate any allegations of staff mistreatment of students.

“We are currently investigating a serious incident involving a student and a staff member at the Carlton Center. Upon learning of the allegation, the district took immediate action to remove the staff member and place the individual on administrative leave. CFISD is cooperating fully with law enforcement to ensure a comprehensive investigation and will take all necessary actions based on the findings. 

“’We are devastated by the loss of one of our students. My most sincere prayers are with the family, and we grieve alongside them during this heartbreaking time,’ said Dr. Doug Killian, superintendent of schools.

“Due to the active investigation and student privacy laws, the district cannot provide further details at this time,” the statement reads.