Fort Worth, Texas — What should have been an ordinary day for the DeLaRosa family turned into a nightmare that no parent could ever imagine. 15-year-old Jacob DeLaRosa, a bright and beloved teenager, was fatally stabbed outside

Polytechnic High School, leaving his family, community, and friends reeling. The tragic incident, which unfolded in the shadow of prior warnings, has sparked outrage and raised urgent questions about school safety, accountability, and institutional response.

According to the family, the warning signs were clear. On October 1, Janeth DeLaRosa, Jacob’s mother, reported to school administrators that a student had threatened to “shoot up” her home. She provided the school with messages documenting the threat and also filed a report with local police. Despite these warnings, Janeth says that no meaningful investigation or protective measures were taken.

Two days later, the same student, reportedly along with three others, allegedly made new threats toward her younger sons. Alarmed for their safety, the family took immediate action. The oldest child, who does not attend Polytechnic High School, called his mother, urging her to pick up his younger brothers.

The Fatal Chain of Events

Janeth’s husband responded immediately, driving to the school to protect the children. While the two younger boys waited outside a nearby store, the violence began. According to family accounts, the suspects had been waiting nearby and followed the boys when they tried to walk back toward the school.

Jacob ran into the store to seek safety, calling his older brother to report that the suspects were outside attempting to “shank” him. Moments later, the oldest brother arrived and encountered the suspects blocking the store entrance. He demanded that they let Jacob leave. Jacob obeyed, walking toward his brother — a decision that would tragically become his last independent action.

Meanwhile, their father, trying to protect all of his children, encountered the group again. When he confronted the suspects, asking why they were targeting his son, one of the suspects allegedly

punched him through the truck window, while another stabbed him. The assailants held him against the seat while continuing to beat him.

Witnesses describe Jacob’s bravery in those moments. Seeing his father under attack, he jumped into the fray to defend him. Jacob managed to knock one of the suspects down, but the attacker recovered, stabbing Jacob repeatedly, including a fatal wound to his heart.

Bleeding heavily and unaware of the severity of his own injuries, Jacob’s father drove him to the hospital. Jacob collapsed in his older brother’s arms along the way. Janeth recounted the heartbreaking moment:

“With my oldest son holding Jacob, while he was passing away, he said he was turning blue and his eyes were rolling back. He told him, ‘I’m dying. I’m dying.’ He wasn’t even crying. He was just telling him he was dying.”

Jacob succumbed to his injuries within minutes of arriving at the hospital.

Failures and Accountability

The tragedy has drawn attention not only to the violence itself but also to what the family sees as systemic failures. The juvenile suspect admitted to carrying knives and reportedly claimed to have “cut someone,” asserting self-defense. Despite this confession,

no arrests have been made since the incident.

The family is calling out the lack of action by institutions that were warned. Fort Worth ISD has reportedly made no public statements

, and there are allegations of inconsistent safety measures, such as the absence of metal detectors. Janeth emphasizes that the warnings about the initial threat were ignored, leaving her children vulnerable.

Advocates argue that the tragedy highlights a pattern of negligence that endangers students. “Schools have a duty to protect children, especially when explicit threats have been reported,” said a local safety expert. “Failure to act on these warnings is not just negligence — it is a breach of trust that can have devastating consequences, as we tragically see here.”

Community Reaction

The news of Jacob’s death has sent shockwaves through the Fort Worth community. Neighbors, parents, and local leaders have expressed outrage and grief, with many demanding urgent reforms in school safety and accountability. Vigils and memorials have been held in Jacob’s honor, celebrating his life and mourning the potential that was stolen from him.

Teachers, students, and community members have shared stories of Jacob as a kind, courageous, and responsible teenager — a young man who stood up for his family even in the face of danger. His death serves as a stark reminder of the risks young people face when threats are ignored and safety protocols fail.

Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. While the suspect’s juvenile status complicates public reporting and potential prosecution, prosecutors are examining all evidence, including messages, witness statements, and video footage, to determine the full sequence of events.

Family advocates stress that justice must go beyond immediate arrests; they want systemic changes to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak. This includes stricter enforcement of reported threats, improved school security, and transparent communication between law enforcement and school administrators.

A Family’s Grief

For Janeth DeLaRosa and her family, the pain is unimaginable. They are not only mourning the loss of a beloved son but also grappling with the knowledge that the tragedy may have been preventable.

“He was our world,” Janeth said. “Jacob was brave, kind, and loving. He didn’t deserve this. No child does. We need accountability, and we need answers.”

The surviving brothers, traumatized by the events, are receiving support and counseling to cope with what they witnessed. The family has expressed hope that their story will lead to meaningful change, ensuring that no other child faces threats ignored by the very institutions designed to protect them.

A Call for Justice and Change

Jacob’s death is a painful reminder of the vulnerability of children when warning signs go unheeded. It also highlights the importance of proactive measures in schools, from security protocols to timely response to threats.

As the DeLaRosa family seeks justice, the broader community is left grappling with grief, outrage, and the urgent need for accountability. The hope is that Jacob’s tragic death will spur reforms to protect other students and prevent future violence.

Jacob may be gone, but his courage, his last acts to defend his family, and the tragedy that took him will not be forgotten. His story calls for vigilance, accountability, and a renewed commitment to keeping children safe in schools and in their communities.