"We prayed for God to save us," student Clintavia Vanzant said.
When a disturbed man came into her fifth grade classroom, the 10-year-old said she knew what to do.
"We got under the table and hid," Vanzant said.
As she and her friends huddled under their desks, Aldine ISD police searched the school for the man who was sitting at a table surrounded by children, claiming he was being chased.
"He kept on saying the police are coming by, he was scared of the police," Vanzant said.
Her parents and others at Jewell Houston Academy are asking how this could happen.
"My child was in harm's way today. Not only my child but every child in there was in harm's way today," Vanzant's father, Clint Vanzant Jr. said.
"How did they get in? If you have metal detectors and the doors locked?" parent Wendy Sanchez said.
The district says the man who officials say may have a mental disorder, ran in through the school's front door, nearly running into the principal, who then called police.
The school went on lockdown. But one student tells us not every room could be locked.
"There was a substitute there, and she didn't have the keys. She had to hold the door," student Victor Aguilar said.
Twenty minutes later, Aldine ISD said police arrested the unarmed man without incident.
Parents say this letter telling them what took place does not begin to answer their questions.
"I think it's not safe for the kids at all, not at all," said Bobbie Cunninghan, whose nephew attends the school.
We shared those parents' concerns with Aldine ISD but they have yet returned our request for comment.
The man is in custody but charges have yet to be filed.
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