Around 450 students reportedly refused to come to classes Friday at Watsonville High School after a stabbing occurred the day before.
A stabbing and a fight reportedly happened Thursday at the school, KSBW reported. A teenager allegedly stabbed another teen and a security guard. Another student was assaulted by 3 classmates. 4 students were arrested in connection to those incidents.
Then rumors circulated on the internet that there would be a shooting on campus. Police looked into the online threats and determined they were not credible. Police presence and security was increased for Friday and a football game at the school Saturday.
Police arrested a 16-year-old suspect in connection with the stabbing, KSBW reported. Authorities charged the teen with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The victims are a 14-year-old and a school employee, both were hospitalized and are expected to recover.
The students involved in the assault have also been arrested. All 3 face charges of felony battery and assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators suspect the two incidents may be connected.
A parent who spoke with reporters said her son texted her while the school was on lockdown. “Are you okay? Yeah, the kid got stabbed in the head around there. I saw him holding his head, and he passed right in front of me,” the mother said.
Another parent, also not identified, addressed the matter. “It’s kind of scary when you drive by and see half of the police force here and a fire truck.”
Interim Police Chief David Rodriguez confirmed officers responded to calls reporting a stabbing at the school around 10:04am, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel. A sergeant reached the scene less than 2 minutes after to find the suspect restrained. Police, firefighters and school employees aided the injured as ambulances arrived and the school went on lockdown, the chief said.
Authorities determined that another student fled the stabbing scene, met with 2 more students and attacked another 14-year-old near where the first incident took place. “The incidents happened one right after the other,” Rodriguez said.
The knife used during the stabbing was recovered at the scene. Police are investigating whether the suspects and victims were acquainted, whether the suspects were known to authorities and whether the suspects possess ties to gangs.
A 17-year-old student allegedly brought a firearm to the school the week before these incidents. The student allegedly had gang ties and authorities are investigating whether the recent attacks were connected to the previous incident.
