Authorities say a Texas high school teacher has been charged with murder for fatally shooting a 16-year-old girl.

The Houston Chronicle reports that a preliminary investigation showed 20-year veteran Matthew Thomas Ponce was charged Friday with murder in the death of a 17-year old girl.

Authorities say the 17-years-old was walking home from a friend’s house on the evening of Dec. 10 when she was shot in the head.

The girl was taken to an area hospital where she died the next day.

Authorities say she was a student at Lakeview High School.

Thomas was a ninth-grade teacher at Lakeland High School when he was arrested on Dec. 11 and charged with capital murder.

He had been fired from the school in May for a similar killing of a 13-year olds sister.

A district attorney told the Chronicle that Thomas’ lawyer has denied any wrongdoing.