Last week, Landon Payton, 14, suffered a medical emergency during P.E. class at Marshall Middle School in Houston, Texas. Staff members quickly responded, but the school’s automated external defibrillator (AED) – a device designed to deliver life-saving shocks to restore heart rhythms – was not functioning properly. Payton was rushed to the hospital where he passed away.
As Payton’s family awaits the official autopsy report, the tragic passing has ignited a firestorm of criticism and calls for immediate action from parents, educators, and local officials.
Patricia Cook, a retired school nurse from the Houston Independent School District (HISD), informed local media that during her tenure, there were significant delays in fulfilling orders for AED batteries, sometimes for several months. Despite repeatedly warning the administration about the potential risks to student safety due to the expired batteries, she was reportedly told that budget constraints prevented their replacement. Cook ultimately decided to resign from her position because she felt she lacked the necessary resources to perform her job effectively.
The Houston Independent School District (HISD) later acknowledged that out of its 1,038 campus AEDs, a staggering 170 units failed recent safety inspections – nearly 20% of the district AEDs are not functioning properly. This finding raises grave concerns about the maintenance and readiness of these critical devices across the district’s schools. However, HISD has not released information on the specific AED used during the incident.
The Houston Federation of Teachers, the city’s teachers’ union, met with the city council this week to address safety and staffing issues with the school system. They told the city council that the AED used at Marshall Middle School was not functioning. “This was something that never should have happened,” said Chief of Staff Corina Ortiz.
The Union also took to social media to show its support. “Our hearts are with Landon’s family. He deserved to come home from school. He deserved more than a 10-second moment of silence from Superintendent Miles and the Board of Managers. None of whom bothered to attend Landon’s prayer vigil tonight.”
This banner is now hanging in front of Marshall Middle School for friends and community members to sign and a GoFundMe has been set up to help cover funeral expenses.
Community Holds Candlelight Vigil
With many questions left unanswered about the circumstances, the community joined together to remember Landon Payton. Payton’s father, Alexis Payton, and two siblings attended the vigil.
“The Bible didn’t tell us how to mourn our children,” said Payton. “We let them go to school, and we expect them to come home.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Payton family, click here to donate.
On the Friday following Landon Payton’s tragic death, HISD Superintendent Mike Miles made the following statement to the media,
“On Wednesday, Houston ISD experienced a tremendous loss. We’re devastated by the death of Landon Payton, a Marshall Middle School student. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family. They are our utmost priority in this unimaginable time. We’ve been focused this week on gathering information for the family and have prioritized that above all else.
Emotions are running high and they should, at this trying time. We have also focused on providing resources and counseling to this, and support for the students and staff at Marshall Middle School. I’m thankful for the valiant efforts of Marshall Middle School students, teachers, school nurses, the HISD police officers, the Houston EMS, and the Houston Fire Department. I understand that many want to better understand what happened on August 14th.
Right now, the district’s priority is communicating directly with Landon’s family and respecting their privacy. What we can share with you now is that Landon experienced a medical emergency during a P.E. class. He received immediate medical assistance from the Marshall Middle School teachers, the HISD police, and medical personnel. He also received medical assistance from EMS and was transferred to the hospital by the EMS team.
As a father myself, my heart is broken for Landon’s family. The district administration and the Marshall Middle School team is committed to the family and will do everything we can to support them during this time of crisis. The health and safety of our precious students is my top priority and the top priority of HISD educators and staff.
Again, I know you have more questions. This is the only information I can share at this time. Thank you.”
In the wake of this devastating incident, HISD has pledged to take immediate steps to address the issue of faulty AEDs across its campuses. The district said that 85% of the defibrillators are working and has vowed to replace all 170 non-working defibrillators and to inspect the remaining 1,038.
As the Marshall Middle School community mourns the loss of Landon Payton, this tragic incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of preparedness and the potential consequences of neglecting essential safety measures.
