This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/09/pennslyvania-school-stabbed-suspect-murrysville-police

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Multiple stabbings at Pennsylvania school before police arrest suspect Multiple stabbings at Pennsylvania school before police arrest suspect
(35 minutes later)
At least 20 people were injured during a Wednesday morning stabbing attack at a high school in Pennsylvania. A high school student embarked on a stabbing spree at a Pennsylvania high school on Wednesday that left 20 people injured before he was apprehended by staff.
Emergency officials said a student was taken into custody after the incident at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, about 15 miles outside of Pittsburgh. Emergency officials said a student was taken into custody after the incident at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, about 15 miles from Pittsburgh.
Dan Stevens, Westmoreland county emergency management spokesman, said four victims had to be taken to area hospitals by helicopters. Stevens said not all of the 20 injured were cut by the knife, though most were. Some suffered scrapes and cuts in the mayhem that ensued. Thomas Seefeld, the Murrysville police chief, said that the suspect walked down the school’s hallway brandishing two knives. He said that many victims were found in the ground floor hallway and on the grass outside the school. “We have a crime scene that is pretty vast,” said Seefeld.
Dr Chris Kaufmann, director of the trauma center at Forbes Regional Hospital in nearby Monroeville, told CNN that seven teenagers had been admitted. He said the injuries include stab wounds to the abdomen, chest and back areas. Nineteen students and one adult were injured. Four of those students have critical injuries, according to officials, although all were expected to survive. The suspect was stopped by school officials.
Kaufmann said the injuries were “quite serious, they’re not superficial in nature” and that “several are life-threatening”. The youngest victim at the hostpital was 15, and a number were undergoing surgery, he said. “The school principal had contact with the juvenile which was able to lead to him being put into custody,” said Seefeld. A school resource officer handcuffed the suspect, who sustained injuries to his hands. Neither staff member was injured.
Stevens said Murrysville is a low-crime area and that the school had recently undergone emergency training. “You can plan for these things, you’re just never prepared for them,” said Stevens. Eight students, all male, were taken to Forbes hospital, according to Dr Mark Rubino, the chief medical officer. Rubino said many of the injuries were similar: “Most were to the right lower abdomen and the right flank,” he said.
Three of the students at Forbes hospital were in surgery on Wednesday morning. “Two of them have relatively significant injuries to their abdominal organs,” said Rubino.
Dr Chris Kaufmann, director of the trauma center at Forbes, said the injuries were “quite serious, they’re not superficial in nature” and that “several are life-threatening”. The youngest victim at the hostpital was 15, and a number were undergoing surgery, he said.
Dan Stevens, Westmoreland county emergency management spokesman, said most of the 20 victims suffered knife injuries. Others suffered scrapes and cuts in the mayhem that followed the attack.
Stevens said Murrysville was a low-crime area and that the school had recently undergone emergency training. “You can plan for these things, you’re just never prepared for them,” said Stevens.
The school was on lockdown after reports of the incident came in at 7:20am. The school said on its website: “A critical incident has occurred at the high school. All elementary schools are canceled, the middle school and high school students are secure."The school was on lockdown after reports of the incident came in at 7:20am. The school said on its website: “A critical incident has occurred at the high school. All elementary schools are canceled, the middle school and high school students are secure."
“I was shocked and saddened upon learning of the events that occurred this morning as students arrived at Franklin Regional High School,” said Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett. “As a parent and grandparent, I can think of nothing more distressing than senseless violence against children. My heart and prayers go out to all the victims and their families.” In a statement, Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett said: “I was shocked and saddened upon learning of the events that occurred this morning as students arrived at Franklin Regional High School. As a parent and grandparent, I can think of nothing more distressing than senseless violence against children. My heart and prayers go out to all the victims and their families.
“I have directed the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement in its investigation in any way possible. Other state resources will be made available to the community, if needed. I assure the citizens of Murrysville that they have the full support of my administration.”“I have directed the Pennsylvania State Police to assist local law enforcement in its investigation in any way possible. Other state resources will be made available to the community, if needed. I assure the citizens of Murrysville that they have the full support of my administration.”
The Associated Press contributed to this reportThe Associated Press contributed to this report
#BREAKING: As many as 6 people stabbed at Franklin Regional High School. LIVE COVERAGE: http://t.co/Xa7YQxzDne pic.twitter.com/n9haz0nGKo#BREAKING: As many as 6 people stabbed at Franklin Regional High School. LIVE COVERAGE: http://t.co/Xa7YQxzDne pic.twitter.com/n9haz0nGKo