HOUSTON, Texas (CITC) — Texas Rep. Christina Morales (D-Houston) sent a letter to two state education officials on Thursday demanding answers about the death of a student due to a defective defibrillator.

On Thursday, KTRK-TV reported that an eighth-grader at Marshall Middle School in Houston died after collapsing during gym class. The school’s defibrillator, a device designed to restart a patient’s heart after cardiac arrest, reportedly “malfunctioned” and failed to save the student.

Texas requires its schools to have “at least one” automated external defibrillator (AED) on campus. The state specifies: “The owner or renter of an AED is responsible for the maintenance and testing of the AED.”

Rep. Morales condemned the tragic events in her letter to Mike Morath, Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, and Mike Morales, Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District.

“I am writing to express my and my community’s concerns regarding the reported medical emergency that occurred yesterday at Marshall Middle School in Texas House District 145,” wrote Rep. Morales. “The Houston Independent School District, under the leadership of Superintendent Miles, has a reputation for being ill-prepared and not prioritizing student welfare and safety.”

“This request is motivated by concern for students and our responsibility at the state level as oversight of the Houston Independent School District is now in the hands of a state-appointed board of directors,” the letter continued.

State Senator Molly Cook (D-Houston) responded to the post and expressed her support for Rep. Morales’ call for information and accountability.

“I wholeheartedly support @RepMorales145 in her demand for details on how a child lost his life in one of our schools,” she wrote. “We need answers.”

Follow Jackson Walker on X at @_jlwalker_ for the latest national news. Have a news tip? Send it to [email protected].