Testimony describes a fight over a $21 vape pen and the moments after the attack.
HOUSTON — An 18-year-old student accused of fatally stabbing a classmate at Baytown’s Sterling High School was denied bond Wednesday after investigators detailed a classroom fight that ended with a neck wound and allegations the suspect smiled and licked his fingers as he was led away.
Judge Emily Detoto denied release for Aundre Matthews, who is charged with murder in the Dec. 17 killing of 16-year-old Andrew Meismer inside a science classroom at Ross S. Sterling High School. Prosecutors argued Matthews posed a danger and cited disciplinary issues. Defense attorneys challenged parts of his school record, but the judge said the risk factors outweighed arguments for bond. The hearing, which drew parents and students still shaken by the on-campus death, came as Goose Creek CISD faces scrutiny over safety procedures and communication following the incident.
Investigators said the confrontation began over a missing $21 vape pen that Matthews believed Meismer took. In testimony, a district investigator described surveillance timelines and student statements saying the argument escalated to a struggle on the classroom floor around late morning, when Matthews allegedly stabbed Meismer in the neck with a pair of scissors. A science teacher who intervened told officials he had to physically pull Matthews off and twist his nose to break a chokehold. As staff restrained Matthews, multiple students reported hearing him say, “He owed me money, so I stabbed him,” according to the investigator’s account. Meismer was taken for treatment and later died from a punctured artery in the neck. The investigator said Matthews appeared to smile while being escorted out.
Authorities said Meismer’s cause of death was a stab wound to the neck, ruled a homicide by the medical examiner. Prosecutors told the court that Matthews had a prior incident involving a knife at school and a history of disciplinary referrals that, taken together, indicated an escalation. The defense argued those records were incomplete or mischaracterized and urged the court to consider his age and ties to the community. Detoto said the new state amendment granting judges more discretion to deny bail applied here and cited public safety in the ruling. Names of several student witnesses were withheld because of age. Officials identified the weapon as scissors from the classroom. No other injuries were reported.
Classes resumed at Sterling High after winter break with added police presence and campus checks, according to the district. Students have staged brief walkouts and circulated petitions seeking more detailed updates from officials. Goose Creek CISD Superintendent Randal O’Brien has said the district is cooperating with Baytown police and that student privacy laws limit what can be shared about discipline and minors. The victim, remembered by friends for his humor and kindness, was honored with a memorial near the school entrance. Parents at recent meetings pressed for clearer rules on classroom access and faster alerts during emergencies, citing confusion and rumors that spread after the stabbing.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office said the case will be presented to a grand jury in the coming weeks. Prosecutors indicated they will continue gathering classroom videos, student statements and campus security logs. A formal arraignment is expected once the indictment process is complete. If indicted, Matthews would be scheduled for a pretrial hearing, and any future bond motion would need to address the court’s safety concerns. The district said it plans to review visitor and hallway monitoring policies and will brief the school board on any recommended security changes at its next regular meeting later this month.
Outside the courthouse, a small group of classmates left flowers for Meismer at a nearby memorial. “We’re still trying to understand how this happened in our school,” said junior Aliyah Torres. A parent, David Ramirez, said he wants “more adults in the halls and clearer rules about what’s allowed in class.” A teacher who asked not to be named described a quieter campus with counselors rotating through classrooms. In the hallway at Sterling, poster boards filled with messages read, “Rest easy, Andrew,” and “We’ll keep your seat.”
As of Wednesday evening, Matthews remained in jail without bond. Prosecutors said they expect to update the court on charging steps within two weeks, and the school board scheduled a security briefing at its late-January meeting.
Author note: Last updated January 8, 2026.