Community members weigh in after EPISD teacher arrested for murder
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Nearby residents of MacArthur School were quick to react after a teacher was arrested on murder charges.
The El Paso County Sherriff's Office confirmed that 25-year-old Matthew Jacob Mendoza was arrested Thursday outside the campus.
El Paso Independent School District confirmed Mendoza is a teacher at the school.
One woman ABC-7 spoke to said she attended the school when she was younger and was shocked when she learned the news.
"It's just insane, but there needs to be a process where some things are happening every few years every so often so we make sure they are still clear and still checking," said Karla Ballez.
She also said teachers should be vetted thoroughly during the application process.
"I have kids of my own now that are in elementary school, and it is just scary to know these are the professionals that you are putting them in the hands of," Ballez said.
One parent said that while her students don't attend that school, they would want more to be done to protect their children.
Some parents were frustrated Mendoza was just arrested two years after the murder occurred.
"To me, what is the most mind-blowing that is has been two years since it happened. Just to know that for years he has been walking around our very delicate population our kiddos, that is scary. it's very alarming that it took this long," Ballez said.
