March 27, 2019 – Statesman.com — Investigators think the stabbing of an Anderson High School senior in January happened in a robbery-gone-wrong by two middle school students, according to four people involved in the case.
A 13-year-old and 15-year-old, whose names have not been released, are charged with murder in the death of 18-year-old Carson Smith. They remain in custody at the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center.
Officials have released few details about the circumstances that led to Smith’s death. Criminal records in the case, including a probable cause affidavit charging the teens, are confidential under state law because of their age. The American-Statesman has requested Smith’s autopsy report, but officials for the Travis County medical examiner’s office said that they could not release any details about it, citing a request from the Austin Police Department to withhold the information because of the ongoing investigation.
Those connected to the case said the suspects, who were both students at Murchison Middle School, told Carson, who previously attended Murchison, that they wanted to purchase liquid cartridges with marijuana that they could use for vaping.
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The three met about 6 p.m. Jan. 25 along Sonnet Avenue in Northwest Hills, just west of MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) south of Steck Avenue, according to those familiar with the evidence. They got into a car and the suspects pretended they were going to buy the cartridges. At some point, they got into an altercation, and officials think the 15-year-old stabbed Smith.
Police have said that neighbors tended to Smith and tried to save his life before medics arrived. Smith was taken to Dell Seton Medical Center, where he was declared medically dead the next day.
In a letter, Anderson High School officials said Smith’s family donated his organs.
Austin police worked with school district police investigators to learn the suspects’ identity, but further details linking the three have not been made available.
It remains unclear whether prosecutors will seek to have the 15-year-old certified as an adult. His attorney, Rick Cofer, declined to comment Wednesday. The 13-year-old is being represented by the juvenile public defender’s office.
A state survey of secondary students in 2016 said the use of vaping e-cigarettes among middle and high school students was growing at an alarming rate and that about 1 in 4 students had used e-cigarettes.
In the Austin school district, 19 percent of high schoolers said they have used e-cigarettes, including 9 percent in the preceding month, and 5 percent of middle schoolers said they used them, including 3 percent in the preceding month, according to a 2015 district survey on substance use.
About a week after Smith’s death, Murchison Middle School Principal Brad Smith abruptly resigned, citing “recent challenges” that occurred at the school, but the letter did not specifically mention the two students.
Clark said in this letter that “a new direction will be in the best interest of everyone.”
“I have decided to step down as principal of Murchison Middle School so that a new leader can bring healing to our campus,” he wrote.
