UPDATE: Central Valley High Stabbing Suspect Had Gang Ties
CERES (CBS13) – Ceres police cuffed a Central Valley High School student accused of stabbing a younger classmate during a heated argument on campus early Tuesday afternoon.
Police say the 17-year-old stabbed the 15-year-old in the stomach with a knife.
"Having a student severely injured to this magnitude it's very seldom," said Ceres Police Department Sgt. Jose Berber.
Even though the school wasn't placed on lockdown, students were ordered to stay inside while administrators called for help.
"We didn't know what was going on. It was scary," said freshman Rolando.
While the victim was rushed to the hospital, the suspected attacker was kept in the office until police arrived. Administrators notified parents and some rushed to pull their children out of class.
"There could be any type of retaliation. Who knows what's going to happen once this bell rings?" said Melinda Cloud, a mother. "I want my child home."
Officers arrested a second teen, but he was later released to his parents.
Police don't know what sparked the attack, but say the suspect has gang ties. The victim is not a known gang member. Investigators spent much of the afternoon interviewing students who watched the attack unfold.
"Right now we don't have a motive," said Sgt. Berber.
School district officials say today's violence is an isolated incident. They're investigating how the student was able to get the knife on campus.
