Police confirmed that a 14-year-old student was brought to Jacobi Medical Center, following a stabbing on Friday inside Walton High School in Kingsbridge Heights.

 

At 12.51 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19, police responded to a call from the school. Upon arrival, officers were informed by school staff that two students had gotten into a physical altercation in a classroom. During the fight, a 15-year-old male student stabbed another 14-year-old male student in the chest with scissors. EMS transported the 14-year-old victim to Jacobi Hospital in stable condition, and the 15-year-old was taken into custody.

 

No details of any charges have been released by the police.

 

Norwood News received an unofficial report that the incident may have been bullying-related. We asked the NYPD if this was the case and a press representative said there may have been an earlier dispute between the two earlier in the day. However, it was unclear what the motive was behind the incident.

 

When contacted for comment, Nathaniel Styer, deputy press secretary at New York City Department of Education (DOE) said, “Safety is our top priority, and NYPD and EMS immediately responded to an incident on the Walton campus today.” He added, “The student is in stable condition and we will provide the school with additional safety and counseling support, as well as work closely with NYPD on their investigation.”

 

According to the DOE, the school has a full complement of School Safety Agents and additional security will be provided next week, along with counseling services. DOE officials added that the rates of [violent] incidents in schools are down 16 percent this year.

 

Norwood News recently reported on a slashing that occurred at Bronx Collaborative High School in Jerome Park, involving two students, on Sept. 15., as well as DOE’s response to the ongoing debate over the presence of school safety agents in schools, the handling of security in schools, generally, and how best to address and prevent such incidents.

 

Eye Witness News told a Norwood News reporter that when their reporters spoke to some students outside Walton High School on Friday, they [the students] were apparently unaware there had been a stabbing at the school.