Defense Attorney, Officials Speak Out After Stabbing Incident
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The healing process starts today for the Franklin Regional community, after a mass stabbing at the high school.
Classes will resume this morning for elementary and middle school students, but the high school remains closed.
The school will be turned back over to the district today, as all the evidence has been collected from the scene.
Alex Hribal, 16, is charged with stabbing nearly two dozen students with two knives. One victim remains on life support this morning, and three teenagers are in the ICU.
"Our students acted quickly, not only acted quickly, but cared for one another," said Franklin Regional Superintendent Dr. Gennaro Piraino.
Superintendent Gennaro Piraino:
This morning, several officials were back at the high school to hold a press conference.
According to Superintendent Piraino, the school is bringing in a restoration company to clean the high school and they're hoping school will resume Monday.
The superintendent also says the school plans to review its security plans.
Murrysville Police Chief Thomas Seefeld talked about the investigation, saying 50 FBI agents worked Wednesday to conduct a lot of interviews and help retrieve some property. They searched Hribal's Murrysville home and confiscated his computer.
Police Chief Thomas Seefeld:
"Our investigation will be lengthy, it will take time to solidify the case," Seefeld said.
During the attack, investigators say Hribal went down the school hallway with the two knives, making slashing motions, leaving most victims with slash wounds, rather than puncture wounds.
Hribal will be charged as an adult with four counts of attempted homicide.
Investigators say Hribal may have made a threat prior to yesterday's incident, but so far they have no motive. Seefeld says it's just too early to tell.
"That's part of our investigation and we'll surely look into that," Seefeld said. "But right now it's early and, you know, we'll put that together."
Hribal's attorney Pat Thomassey also spoke out on his behalf Thursday, addressing Hribal's state of mind the day after going on an alleged stabbing rampage.
"He's confused, depressed, I think he's probably trying to figure out why this happened himself as we're trying to figure it out," Thomassey said. "His family's absolutely devastated by this. This is not a dysfunctional family, these are not parents who ignored their two sons."
However, Thomassey says Hribal is aware of the magnitude of what happened Wednesday.
Defense Attorney Pat Thomassey:
"Sure, he absolutely does and as anybody else would be, he's frightened about it and we'll try to figure it out," Thomassey said.
Thomassey says he hopes to get a mental evaluation for Hribal and that he hasn't had any past mental issues.
Stay with KDKA for more information.
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