WASHINGTON — Five students and a security guard were injured in a stabbing on Thursday afternoon at a high school in Tacoma, Washington, following an “altercation,” police said.
The authorities responded just after 1:30 p.m. to a report of an “active assault” at Foss High School, the Tacoma Fire Department said in a statement.
Four students were hospitalized with “reported stab wounds,” according to Chelsea Sheperd, a spokeswoman for the Fire Department.
Police said they detained the suspect, a student at Foss High School, who was also injured in the incident.
The suspect was booked on five counts of first-degree assault, Shelbie Boyd, a spokeswoman for the Tacoma Police Department, said.
The fire department said it also attended the scene, where it treated and transported six patients, who were taken to hospital.
Four students were initially reported by Tacoma Fire Department to be in critical condition. One adult had minor injuries and the suspect also had minor injuries.
The authorities later confirmed that all patients were in stable condition as of 16:00 local time.
Boyd told media outlets that the incident arose after “some type of an altercation”.
She added that police arrived promptly and were “able to locate the individual” and secure the scene “pretty quickly”.
The investigation would “carry on into the night”, Boyd said, urging anyone with video of the incident to get in touch with police.
Foss High School will remain shut on Friday following the incident, according to an alert on the school’s website. It will reopen on Monday 4 May, with counsellors on site to support staff and students.
Source: Saudi Gazette