Mystery surrounds killing of boy in middle school

ALDINE, TX (KTRK) -- As Stovall middle school let out for the week, Gustavo Guzman can't believe he will never see his friend Jose Meraz in class again.

"He was like a real calm person, no problems, he would come everyday to play soccer," said Guzman, who lived in the same apartment complex as Meraz.

The 14-year-old can be seen smiling in his Facebook posts. He was an eighth grade student at Stovall. But on September 15, a person walking his dog discovered a body in a heavily wooded area in west Houston. Two days later, classmates and friends would learn it was Meraz.

"It makes me feel bad. I'm even stuttering, I can't even talk right," said Joseph Juarez, whose younger brother attended classes with Meraz. "I just saw him at my house (last week.)"

With his parents in Honduras, friends say Meraz lived in Houston with his cousins. He hung out at a local skate park and loved to play soccer.

"He was a goofy student he was always excited, always happy. He was never let nothing get to him," Claudette Vela, who took classes with Meraz last year.

Houston police are still investigating. For now, they don't know why Meraz was killed. Friends have speculated that the murder may be gang related, but so far, nothing has been confirmed.

HPD is are asking the public for help. If you know anything about the death of the 14-year-old eighth grade student, you are asked to call Houston police.