Houston School Target Of Vandal

HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Tense moments for the Houston School District as the high school became the target of a vandal.

“Water sprinklers systems had gone off there was a fire set in the home economic room and lots and lots of technology destroyed,” said Houston Schools superintendent Tony Cook.

“We received the call this morning around 1:30 or 2. The officer arrived on scene here at the high school for a fire alarm that went off. When we got down here the officer approach the door and we kept seeing this guy walking around inside. He didn’t know if it was an employee or what,” said Houston Police Chief Billy Voyles.

That guy was 20-year-old Former Houston High School Student Patrick Nichols.

Voyles says shortly after the officer checked the scene, Nichols let the him in and the officer was able to make an arrest.

Nichols was charged later Friday morning.

“One of them will be arson felony Mischief and Burglary. More charges are still pending,” said Voyles.

Cook says he’s hurt that this happened but is so happy to have the help of community volunteers to help with clean-up.

“You don’t prepare specifically for an incident like this to happen. I just appreciate everyone jumping in and doing what they’ve done. At 2:30 this morning when I got here I though wow we’ll be a week out of school but these guys have done an amazing job,”said Cook.

Houston High will be opening to welcoming students back on Monday as scheduled. Cook says if anything changes he will make an announcement sometime on Sunday.