Student stabbed at Brockton school; 16-year-old classmate in custody
BROCKTON - A teenager was stabbed at a school for students who need special education services in Brockton Thursday morning.
Brockton police said officers responded to the Brockton Therapeutic Day School at Huntington on Warren Avenue for a report of an assault with a knife just after 9:30 a.m. The stabbing happened outside the gym.
"Student was stabbed in the neck. I'm being told they're holding the student down. The one that had the knife," a dispatcher can be heard saying.
The 17-year-old was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. He was responsive and alert at the hospital and school administrators were by his side, police said.
"Thank God a true tragedy was avoided," Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan said.
The suspect, a 16-year-old student, was taken into custody by police and was evaluated at the hospital. It's unclear how the student brought a knife into the building, as the school does have metal detectors in place.
"We'll have to check the sensitivity. All students go through them and they did this morning. They're not fool-proof," Superintendent Michael Thomas said.
Thomas credited the school nurse with quickly giving first aid to the injured student. He said a staff member "took down" the student with the knife.
The school said students were held in classrooms for about an hour while police investigated the stabbing. Police brought in comfort dogs afterward.
The suspect is charged with carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and attempted murder.
It's been a difficult week for the school of about 40 students. On Tuesday morning 14-year-old Nehemiah Cepeda, a 9th grade student at the school, was shot and killed - allegedly by his stepfather.
School stayed open for the rest of the day so students could get support, though families had the option to dismiss their children if they wanted.
"Our students are dealing with very difficult circumstances," Thomas said. "Our job is to support them and support our teachers."
