An incident occurred at Thornton Middle School in Katy, resulting in the death of 13-year-old Xavier Thompson after he suffered an asthma attack during basketball practice. His family has raised concerns about the school's response to the emergency. Xavier's mother, Brittany Thompson, described receiving a call from a student, who urgently asked what to do as her son struggled to breathe. According to ABC13, she said that 911 was not called immediately, despite a fire station being located nearby. When Xavier's father arrived at the scene, he found his son unresponsive and attempted CPR, but was unable to revive him.
In the days leading up to the incident, Xavier was active and full of energy, having recently made the basketball team. A video showed him dancing with enthusiasm, reflecting his athletic spirit despite his lifelong asthma. Brittany Thompson told KHOU that Xavier was known as a son, brother, friend, and student who was well-liked by many. The family also clarified that Xavier's asthma was well-managed; he had an asthma action plan on file with Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and two inhalers at school for emergencies.
Xavier's attorney, George Powell, questioned the decision not to call medical personnel immediately and stated that his office would be investigating the situation. The specifics of the incident remain unclear as further details are awaited. Thornton Middle School has informed parents about the availability of counseling services for students affected by Xavier's death.
The district has stated that Xavier's death was asthma-related and has indicated that no concerns about the medical care provided have been raised, according to a Cy-Fair ISD spokesperson speaking to KHOU. This follows ongoing questions regarding the timeline and actions taken after Xavier’s collapse. To help with the financial costs of the incident, the family has created a GoFundMe page to assist with expenses as they prepare for Xavier’s funeral today.
