17 HISD Schools Receive Suspicious Envelopes, Investigation Continues

The FBI is currently investigating several suspicious letters that were sent to 17 HISD schools on Oct. 8 or Oct. 9, all containing a white, powdery substance.
HISD received the test results of the samples on Monday that were sent to the Houston Health Department on Friday, Oct. 8.
Samples from two schools indicate that the substance at no time presented any risk to any students or staff. Lab tests on the substance from the two schools came back negative for harmful and biological agents.
Samples from the 15 additional schools, that received letters, were delivered today to the Houston Health Department for further testing.
Seventeen schools received envelopes that were delivered via the U.S. Postal Service on either Friday, Oct. 8 or Saturday, Oct. 9.
Two schools did not discover they had received a letter until Monday, Oct.11. Each envelope was addressed to the individual school and contained only a small amount of a white, powdery substance.
The schools receiving envelopes include two high schools: Austin and Bellaire; three middles schools: Attucks, Fonville, and Burbank: and 12 elementary schools: Alcott, Almeda, Anderson, Ashford, Askew, Barrick, Bastian, Bellfort-Lewis, Benbrook, Blackshear, Briarmeadow and Browning.
“I commend the efforts of our principals, central office staff, HISD police, the Houston Fire Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their swift action in addressing this senseless act,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “One of the main goals of HISD and the Board of Education is the safety and security of our children. At no time were any children in danger, and we hope that the person or persons responsible are found and prosecuted for this crime.”
U.S. Postal inspectors have implemented a process with the U.S. Postal Service and HISD officials to capture any additional suspicious envelopes prior to the delivery to the schools. In addition, the HISD Police Department, with guidance from the United States Post Office and the Houston Health Department, has developed a set of guidelines for HISD school and building staff to follow regarding any suspicious envelopes or packages.