A shocking assault took place at Horn High School in Mesquite, Texas, on Tuesday, when a 19-year-old man named Synniaz Elijah allegedly snuck on the campus and sexually assaulted a female student in a school bathroom.
A statement from the Mesquite Police Department posted to social media revealed that Elijah, a Seagoville resident, bypassed school security by entering through an exterior side door. Elijah’s entry to the school through the usually locked door was apparently facilitated by another student. Once inside, the suspect reportedly looked for his ex-girlfriend, a student at the school, and forced her into a nearby bathroom stall at knife-point.
According to police, a teacher spotted Elijah in the hallway and confronted him, leading to a brief chase. While Elijah managed to escape the school grounds, he was apprehended by the Mesquite Police Department at his home later that evening.
Mesquite ISD’s statement expressed concern over the incident and emphasized the importance of maintaining safety for its students.
“We want our Horn families to know that we share their concern that this individual was able to gain entry to the campus. MISD is committed to exceeding state safety and security standards, and we rely on the cooperation and commitment of our students to keep our campus secure,” the statement read.
“Exterior doors are locked for a reason. There are only two authorized entrances for visitors to enter Horn High School. Any student who opens a door to an unauthorized person will face serious disciplinary action, as this compromises the security of our campus.”
Many parents have voiced concerns online about the delay in notifying them about the incident and the apparent security breach that allowed the intruder to access the school, according to Fox 4 KDFW.
“That bothered me so bad; so y’all waited 24 hours to tell parents that their child was in danger?” said parent Brianka Dulin, per Fox 4.
Elijah was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and his bond was set at $150,000.
