A psychological evaluation of the boy cited in court documents, revealed an alleged extensive violent history involving the 11-year-old boy.
GONZALES COUNTY, Texas — Loved ones of Brandon Rasberry are comforted to know a federal judge ruled in favor of Gonzales Independent School District on Tuesday to forbid an 11-year-old boy from school grounds. This is the same child who confessed to authorities that he killed Rasberry in 2022 when he was 7-years-old, which according to state law is too young to be criminally charged.
“I am completely thrilled that the boy is being retained from having any grant to go into public schools,” said Jonathan Fojtik, Rasberry’s brother.
“I have two grandsons that live in that area so I am very happy that the judge said that he couldn’t because that’s real close, that’s hitting home,” said Rasberry’s mother, Charlene Munn.
In 2024, the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of the child threatening a fellow student on a school bus within Nixon-Smiley CISD. This led to the self-confession that the boy killed a man he didn’t know two years prior.
According to court documents, the boy said he found his grandfather’s gun and killed Rasberry who was sleeping in his RV because he was told to “shut up” earlier in the day on Jan. 16, 2022.
“It hurts me deep in my heart. I can’t tell you how many days and nights I’ve cried,” Munn said. “It’s still hard to accept. What can I do?”
Gonzales ISD is suing the boy and legal guardian, his grandmother, arguing his alleged past makes him a danger to others in the classroom and should be placed in a residential treatment facility.
The boy’s grandmother filed a special education due process hearing with the Texas Education Agency (TEA). On Oct. 2, a state hearing officer ordered the boy be placed in a general education setting at Gonzales ISD during the proceedings, which prompted legal challenge by the district.
Court documents detail a psychological evaluation that revealed the boy had allegedly choked his grandmother, sexually assaulted a family member and killed a little of puppies. There are also descriptions of the child demonstrating violent outbursts, property destruction and suicidal ideation.
The mental report concluded the boy exhibited signs of sociopathy and requires intensive treatment at a residential facility.
Per court documents, Gonzales ISD developed an Individualized Education Program (IEP), suggesting that the child be placed in the Shiloh Treatment Center in Brazoria County for therapy and supervision.
While the litigation proceeds, Rasberry’s loved ones have a message for the Gonzales community.
“He needs to be in a facility, taken care, medicated,” Munn said.
“I hope everything that happened to Brandon is a complete eye opener and helps prevents this child from hurting anybody else,” Fojtik said.
Walsh Gallegos, the law firm representing Gonzales ISD, provided this statement in response to the judge’s granting of the temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction:
The district is pleased with the results of today’s hearing. The safety of the Gonzales ISD community continues to be at the forefront of the district’s decision making. The district will continue to advocate for all of its students.