Boy nearly abducted near middle school

HOUSTON The Lamar Fleming Middle School student was on his way to school around 7:40am on Monday. He was apparently walking by himself just a couple blocks away from the school when he says a man tried to grab him and put him in his truck.

"I thought it was really upsetting," said concerned parent Georgetta Clark.

Clark has one thing on her mind.

"What if he would've gotten that kid," she said.

She is just thininking about the safety of her children. Her son walks to school every day from his house just across the street. But on this day, many parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were dropping off students.

"I'm gonna bring her and pick her up, but I'm not gonna let her walk at all," said parent Vanessa Nash.

They are all keeping a closer eye after word of yesterday's attempted child abduction.

"I made my granddaughter aware of this and told her to watch out," said concerned Grandmother Barbara Hill.

Yesterday's victim, a teenage boy, says he managed to wiggle away from the man and run and hide inside a nearby apartment complex. He used a cell phone to call his mom, then called for help.

HISD sent a letter home with parents, saying the incident has been reported and HPD and HISD are investigating.

Six to ten officers patrol the blocks around Lamar Fleming Middle School, but it's not enough for some parents.

"Maybe another HISD officer or HPD," said another concerned parent.

Meantime, Clark says she'll keep a closer eye on her son even thought he lives just a few steps away.

"I just have to watch him go all the way into the building," said Clark.

Police say the teenage boy was walking alone and there were no witnesses. Meantime, police say they have beefed up patrol around the school including new special units following yesterday's incident.

Authorities are investigating the incident.

Below is the letter sent home to parents:

Dear Parents,

This morning, a Fleming Middle School student reported an alleged attempted abduction near our campus. The student reported that the incident took place around 7:40 a.m. and that the stranger involved was a middle-aged, dark-skinned African-American male wearing a baseball cap and a brown jogging suit with green stripes. The student described the man's car as a multi-colored vehicle, perhaps a station wagon.

This alleged incident has been reported to the police, and HPD and HISD PD are conducting an investigation at this time. We will be reminding our students to walk in groups and to run away from strangers who may approach them.

Please remember that your child's safety is our number one priority. As our partners in this important endeavor we would ask that you:

Please be on the lookout for and report any suspicious people in the area.

If possible, please escort your children to school if they are walkers or to their bus stop if they ride the bus.

Should your child have to walk to and from school or the bus stop without supervision, make sure he or she walks in a group.

Parents, please remind your children that if they are approached by a stranger, they should run away while making enough noise to call attention to the situation.

The HISD Police Department has added extra patrols in the area. If you have any questions regarding this matter please contact the school at 713-671-4160.

Thank you,

Exerta Mackie, Kashmere Gardens Elementary Principal

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