Adrian Thompson’s family is questioning the response to the April emergency after Texas Rangers found no criminal offense connected to her death.
LINDALE, TX — The parents of an 8-year-old East Texas girl who died after choking during lunch at her elementary school have released surveillance footage of the emergency, saying they still have questions about how quickly their daughter received help.
Adrian Sue Thompson, a second grader at Velma Penny Elementary School in Lindale, began choking while eating lunch on April 15. She was taken for emergency medical treatment and later transferred to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth. Adrian died in the early morning hours of April 16. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that she died from choking and ruled her death an accident.
The newly publicized surveillance footage has renewed attention on the case more than six months after Adrian’s death. Reports describing the video say Adrian can be seen coughing and seeking help in the cafeteria before moving through the school toward the nurse’s office. Her parents, Anna Thompson and Greg Sher, have said the footage raised questions for them about whether the seriousness of her condition was recognized soon enough.
According to reports based on the Texas Rangers investigation, an employee initially believed Adrian was sick rather than choking. She eventually reached the school nurse, where staff began emergency treatment. Lindale Independent School District previously said the response included the Heimlich maneuver, use of a LifeVac airway-clearance device and CPR. Emergency medical personnel continued treatment after arriving at the school.
Documents from the Texas Rangers investigation also showed that staff used an adult-sized choking rescue device rather than a child-sized device during the emergency, according to reports on the investigative record. The Rangers ultimately found no criminal offense associated with Adrian’s death. The medical examiner’s ruling also classified the death as accidental.
Adrian’s mother has continued to question whether the investigation fully addressed what happened inside the school. In recent interviews, Thompson has said she was troubled that investigators did not interview witnesses as part of the inquiry. The family has also pressed school officials publicly for a fuller review of the response and has called for changes that could improve emergency preparedness in Texas schools.
Lindale ISD Superintendent Stan Surratt said after Adrian’s death that staff members and first responders acted to try to save her. The district said it would seek an outside review of its emergency equipment, procedures and response practices and would work on a broader plan to strengthen emergency-response training for employees.
The district has since said it has made safety changes following the emergency. Recent reports said those steps include updated procedures, additional staff training and new policies intended to improve the response to medical emergencies. The district’s earlier statements also emphasized that the review was intended to identify both strengths and areas where its practices could be improved.
Adrian’s death prompted public attention in Lindale, including a memorial service and later demonstrations calling for answers. Her parents have said their decision to share the surveillance footage was intended to show what happened and support their push for changes, even though the criminal investigation has concluded without charges.
The Texas Rangers’ finding of no criminal offense closes the criminal-investigation portion of the case, but Adrian’s family continues to seek changes in school emergency procedures and Texas law. Lindale ISD has said it remains focused on improving safety and emergency response following the student’s death.
Author note: Last updated October 30, 2026.