Local Students Wear Franklin Regional Colors In Display Of Solidarity
MURRYSVILLE (KDKA) – Two days after a stabbing rampage at Franklin Regional High School, the school is still closed and it's unclear when it will reopen.
School officials said Thursday that it could reopen as early as Monday, but that date is still tentative.
KDKA's Trina Orlando Reports:
More than half of the two dozen people injured Wednesday by a knife-wielding student have been released from area hospitals.
However, three students remain in the ICU at Forbes Hospital in critical condition. Two more remain there in fair condition. Another two students are still at Children's Hospital and the most critically injured one is on life-support at UPMC Presbyterian.
Pittsburgh Penguins players Beau Bennett and Robert Bortuzzo stopped by Forbes to visit the injured victims.
In the 48 hours since the stabbings, flowers and signs have appeared at the entrance to Franklin Regional High School.
The school district was shaken to its core when 16-year-old Alex Hribal brought two 8-inch kitchen knives to school and injured 24 people.
Hribal is now charged as an adult with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and weapons charges.
He's been at a juvenile detention center since Wednesday, and yesterday, saw his parents for the first time since the attacks.
He also met with defense attorney Pat Thomassey, who is desperate to understand why this happened.
He acknowledges bullying likely played a role.
For now, Franklin Regional is focusing on signs of Support from the community. In the neighboring Penn Trafford School District, there's a showing of solidarity.
"They all decided to trade in green and gold today for blue and gold," said Principal Scott Inglese.
One group even took it a step further by wearing Franklin Regional gear.
"Since, it's so close to home, what happened, it really, like, hits our hearts," said student Maggie Crombie.
"It's awesome to be able to show support to a community that just went through intense tragedy," said student Michael Granata.
They also made a banner that will be signed by all of the students at Penn Trafford High School and given to their friends in need.
KDKA's Kimberly Gill Reports:
"I have a lot of friends in Franklin and I just want to support them however I can and I've been there for them and I just want them to know that I care and the whole school cares about them," said student Jessica Steffey.
"I think us wearing these colors really shows that we are there for you, we're always going to be here for you, you know, that no matte what, we are your neighbors and we love you guys and that we're going to help you through it," said student Rachael Huber.
We are expecting school district to announce later today when classes will resume at high school.
In the meantime, counseling services are being made available to students at a local church.
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