Latest news with #SanMarcosHighSchool
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Texas high schooler reveals last thing his friend, 18, did before he was tragically killed at graduation party
A Texas teen was shot and killed less than 24 hours after he marked one of the most important milestones in a young person's life. Andrew Farias, 18, was tragically killed on May 25 at around 1:00am after a fight between two girls escalated into a shootout in Uhland. Farias had graduated from San Marcos High School on May 23 and attended a graduation party the following day. 'I had just, you know, watched him walk the stage online. You know, it was everybody - my whole family - we cheered for him when he walked the stage. We were so proud of him,' said Lorenzo Martinez, a friend of the teen. 'He wanted to continue his education. He wanted to get his degree and be successful in his life. And, you know, now he doesn't have the chance to do that.' At around 1:00am, a homeowner identified as Farias' aunt asked everyone to leave the party before two girls began fighting, according to court documents obtained by Fox 7. A witness said the girls began to argue because a group were 'making faces' and talking about other girls at the party. Farias's aunt tried to break up the altercation before one party-goer, later identified as 18-year-old Chad Lee-Gardner, 'jumped in' and struck her on the head with a handgun. Farias then tried to intervene before Lee-Gardner allegedly fired two shots, striking Farias at least once, Law & Crime reported. 'Me seeing him fall to the ground was the hardest thing,' Mariana De Luna, Farias's girlfriend, told KEYE. 'The last thing he did was grab my fingers. I'm glad her knew I was with him till the very end.' The shooter fled the scene before police arrived, but within 24 hours, Lee-Gardner was arrested in Austin and charged with murder. The incident was reportedly recorded by at least one partygoer which allegedly shows Lee-Gardner as the shooter. Farias's mother, Shannon Vasquez, told CBS News through tears: 'My Andrew, that was my baby. He had the biggest smile. He was such a loving, responsible, and hardworking baby.' Farias had plans to attend Texas State University in the fall to study construction engineering. The teen also played for the San Marcos High School Rattlers football team. His final jersey number, black 13, was officially retired during a vigil on Tuesday, CBS reported. 'That black 13 was the last jersey Andrew wore,' said Coach Carroll. 'And he will be the last to wear it.' A GoFundMe said Farias was a 'cherished son, brother, nephew, cousin and friend.' 'He was a light in our lives - always smiling, full of love, compassion, and kindness. His presence brought warmth to everyone around him, and his absence leaves a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.' Vasquez said in a statement to KVUE: 'No words can describe this pain I'm feeling. I lost my best friend. I love all my children but Andrew held a special place in my heart. Everyone knew us, knew he was nothing more than a momma's boy. 'My baby boy was the light of the room. He was always so positive and a drama-free kid. He avoided any confrontation. He had so many dreams ahead of him and always said, "Momma, I'm going to get us out the hood. I'm going to make you so proud Momma." He was an amazing big and little brother. He loved his siblings and his stepdad. 'Everyone knew him for his big smile. He smiled at everyone and everything. He was a busy body and just wanted to enjoy life.' Martinez said Farias was 'the light that everybody needed in this dark world.' 'And, unfortunately, God thought it was his time. But we all know that it wasn't,' Martinez added. 'He had so much potential and it was taken by a random act of violence.' Uhland Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and Lee-Gardner was booked in the Travis County Jail. Vasquez told CBS: 'He doesn't deserve to get the death penalty and get put away form his misery, but I do want him to think about what he's done. 'My son did not deserve this.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Sorry, Clovis students. No graduation ceremony if you break the rules
Two of my close friends in high school got in big trouble the last week before our graduation. It was 1977 in Santa Barbara, and we seniors were attending class with as little effort as possible. We suffered from 'senioritis,' and were already done with San Marcos High School, even if the diplomas still had to be handed to us. In a moment of boredom one of those final school mornings, my friends decided to skip class and do something more fun. They hopped into one guy's dune buggy — a souped-up Volkswagen Bug — and drove the bright-yellow, loud vehicle up hallways on campus. They got caught. Their rule-breaking stunt disqualified them from many activities planned for seniors before graduation. The memory came back to me in light of some students at Clovis North and Buchanan high schools who got busted for having alcohol on a party bus headed to their May 3 prom. A Bee account by staff writer Nick Fenley said about 30 students were involved in the alcohol caper. Of those, about nine students took responsibility for their misdeeds after Clovis Unified School District officials encouraged the youths to admit to their involvement. An attorney representing the students told Fenley that the seniors who came clean won't be able to take part in their graduation ceremony. The other kids did not admit to any wrongdoing and don't face the same penalty, said lawyer Steve Smith. One of those who self-reported expressed remorse to the Clovis Unified school board. 'I made a huge mistake being on a limo bus that contained alcohol. I felt lost and pressured to do things that didn't align with what actually happened that night. But at the end of the day, I went and stood in the line that I understood was admitting to alcohol being on the bus,' one student said in a statement read by Smith. Some of the students pleaded with the school board to be allowed to take part in graduation by saying they had high grade-point averages, participated in extracurricular activities and boasted a history of attending Clovis Unified schools. But Kelly Avants, the chief communications officer for Clovis Unified, said Tuesday that the district would not relent on its stance. Students sign a 'Senior Expectations and Graduation Ceremony Contract,' which makes clear that violating its terms results in being denied the chance to take part in the graduation ceremony. Clovis North also has a dance contract that makes clear disciplinary action awaits any student who is found to have used drugs or alcohol before a school dance. High school seniors have been getting in trouble ever since graduation ceremonies began. That is why districts came up with specific rules governing acceptable behaviors. The Clovis Unified students who got disqualified from graduation are suffering right now — both Buchanan and Clovis North hold their ceremonies next week. But they are also learning a final high school lesson: Rules are not made to be broken, but followed. From a yellow VW bug to a limo bus, that instruction is always the same — and that's a good thing.
Fox News
28-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
High school graduate shot dead at Texas party after confronting armed teen
A fight between two girls at a Texas high school graduation party left one graduate dead, authorities said. Andrew Farias, 18, was killed during the dispute at a home in the Austin suburb of Uhland, Fox 7 reported. Uhland police officers and Texas Rangers responded to the home May 25 amid reports of a shooting. The homeowner told authorities guests were told to leave around 1 a.m., when a fight broke out between two girls. A witness told Texas Rangers the fight started because girls were "making faces" and talking about other girls, according to an affidavit obtained by the news outlet. During the dispute, Chad Lee-Gardner, 18, jumped in and allegedly hit the female homeowner with a pistol on the head. Farias attempted to confront Lee-Gardner, who allegedly opened fire two times and struck Farias. Farias, who played cornerback and running back for his high school football team, later died. Lee-Gardner fled before officers arrived, but he was later taken into custody in Austin on suspicion of murder, police said. Farias graduated from San Marcos High School just over 24 hours before the shooting. He planned to attend Texas State University in August, his family said.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vigil held for recent high school graduate shot, killed at Uhland house party
The Brief Vigil held at Toyota-Rattler Stadium in San Marcos for Andrew Farias Farias was shot and killed at a house party in Uhland over the weekend He had graduated from San Marcos High School just over 24 hours before the shooting SAN MARCOS, Texas - A vigil was held Tuesday night in San Marcos for a recent high school graduate who was shot and killed at a party over Memorial Day weekend. What we know The family of 18-year-old Andrew Farias said the field at Toyota-Rattler Stadium had a special place in their hearts after four years of games played there. Farias walked across the stage to get his diploma just this past Friday. He played cornerback and runningback for the San Marcos Rattlers. A little more than 24 hours later, Farias was shot and killed while out celebrating at a house party on Rocky Road in Uhland later Saturday night. What they're saying "Coach felt in his heart, our head coach, to give Andrew, give Andrew's mom, the last jersey that he wore on his last game that he played," said Mark Carrillo, the San Marcos High School football team's chaplain. "He had so much in front of him," said Shannon Vasquez, Andrew's mother. "He was ready to start Texas State in August. Everyone loved him, everybody." "I know that it's a difficult time during this time, so we just cover your prayers and keep us in your prayers and thoughts," said Carrillo. "I just want to thank the Uhland Police Department and Texas Ranger Bible for doing everything, from the bottom of my heart, to get justice for my baby," said Vasquez. "This is so hard and something a mother cannot deal with." His family, friends, and loved ones at the vigil said Andrew will be remembered most for his smile and that he always lit up a room. Timeline Reportedly, there was a fight at the party before the Uhland Police Department received reports of a shooting around 1 a.m. The preliminary investigation, police say, indicates that an altercation took place during which a firearm was produced. Farias was shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect, 18-year-old Chad Lee-Gardner, fled before officers arrived. He was later taken into custody in Austin and booked into the Travis County Jail on Memorial Day for murder. The Source Information in this report comes from reporting/interviews by FOX 7 Austin's Katie Pratt and previous reporting by FOX 7 Austin.
