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| No motive yet in Pennsylvania high school stabbing spree, officials say | No motive yet in Pennsylvania high school stabbing spree, officials say |
| (5 months later) | |
| No motive has yet been established to explain why a student went on a stabbing spree at his Pennsylvania high school that left 21 people injured, officials said on Thursday. | No motive has yet been established to explain why a student went on a stabbing spree at his Pennsylvania high school that left 21 people injured, officials said on Thursday. |
| Prosecutor said Alex Hribal, a 16-year-old sophomore at Franklin regional high school, was being charged as an adult with four counts of attempted homicide for the attack in the quiet suburb of Murrysville, about 15 miles from Pittsburgh. | Prosecutor said Alex Hribal, a 16-year-old sophomore at Franklin regional high school, was being charged as an adult with four counts of attempted homicide for the attack in the quiet suburb of Murrysville, about 15 miles from Pittsburgh. |
| Murrysville police chief Thomas Seefeld said on Thursday it was too early to determine what motivated Hribal to walk down his school’s hallway and attack his fellow students with two knives. “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.” | Murrysville police chief Thomas Seefeld said on Thursday it was too early to determine what motivated Hribal to walk down his school’s hallway and attack his fellow students with two knives. “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.” |
| Seefeld said the attacker made motions that left most victims with slash wounds, rather than puncture wounds. Twenty-one students and an adult security guard were injured in the attack. One victim is still on life support and three teenagers are in the intensive care unit. | Seefeld said the attacker made motions that left most victims with slash wounds, rather than puncture wounds. Twenty-one students and an adult security guard were injured in the attack. One victim is still on life support and three teenagers are in the intensive care unit. |
| Hribal’s attorney Pat Thomassey said the teenager’s family was surprised by the attack, and offered its condolences to the victims and their families. "This just came out of nowhere to the family, believe me,” Thomassey told local news outlet KDKA. “They are surprised as anyone about this." | Hribal’s attorney Pat Thomassey said the teenager’s family was surprised by the attack, and offered its condolences to the victims and their families. "This just came out of nowhere to the family, believe me,” Thomassey told local news outlet KDKA. “They are surprised as anyone about this." |
| Thomassey said one of his first priorities was to have Hribal psychologically evaluated, though he said Hribal has no history of mental illness. | Thomassey said one of his first priorities was to have Hribal psychologically evaluated, though he said Hribal has no history of mental illness. |
| “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,” said Thomassey. “His family’s absolutely devastated by this. This is not a dysfunctional family. These are not parents who ignored their two sons.” | “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,” said Thomassey. “His family’s absolutely devastated by this. This is not a dysfunctional family. These are not parents who ignored their two sons.” |
| Brett Hurt, a victim of the attack, said that he had only met Hribal a few times before. “I don't know his reputation, but after today, he's going to have a bad one,” Hurt told reporters at a press conference from Forbes Hospital on Thursday. “Someday I might be able to forgive him, but first he needs to forgive himself,” said Hurt. | Brett Hurt, a victim of the attack, said that he had only met Hribal a few times before. “I don't know his reputation, but after today, he's going to have a bad one,” Hurt told reporters at a press conference from Forbes Hospital on Thursday. “Someday I might be able to forgive him, but first he needs to forgive himself,” said Hurt. |
| Hurt credited his friend, 17-year-old junior Gracey Evans, for helping save his life. He said they were in the hallway when Hurt was stabbed in the back, taking him by surprise. “It was all kind of like a blur,” said Hurt. “The only thing I remember was messing around with Gracey.” | |
| He said Evans stayed by his side after he was stabbed. “There is nothing i can do for that girl to thank her for what she had done,” said Hurt’s mother, Amanda Leonard. | He said Evans stayed by his side after he was stabbed. “There is nothing i can do for that girl to thank her for what she had done,” said Hurt’s mother, Amanda Leonard. |
| Dr Chris Kaufmann, chief trauma surgeon at Forbes Hospital, said the five patients the hospital admitted had injuries to organs including lungs, diaphragms, pancreas and kidneys. “These were significantly deep penetration stab wounds,” Kaufmann said. | Dr Chris Kaufmann, chief trauma surgeon at Forbes Hospital, said the five patients the hospital admitted had injuries to organs including lungs, diaphragms, pancreas and kidneys. “These were significantly deep penetration stab wounds,” Kaufmann said. |
| According to police, the suspect is alleged to have used two 8-10in knives in the morning attack, before he was subdued by a school police officer and a senior member of staff. Hribal has been taken to a juvenile detention facility and faces 21 counts of aggravated assault, and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon on school property, in addition to the four counts of attempted homicide. | According to police, the suspect is alleged to have used two 8-10in knives in the morning attack, before he was subdued by a school police officer and a senior member of staff. Hribal has been taken to a juvenile detention facility and faces 21 counts of aggravated assault, and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon on school property, in addition to the four counts of attempted homicide. |
| Seefeld said investigators were looking into reports that Hribal made a threatening phone call to another student ahead of the attack, but that it was too soon to establish a motive. “Our investigation will be lengthy. It will take time to solidify the case,” said Seefeld. | Seefeld said investigators were looking into reports that Hribal made a threatening phone call to another student ahead of the attack, but that it was too soon to establish a motive. “Our investigation will be lengthy. It will take time to solidify the case,” said Seefeld. |
| About 50 FBI agents were involved with the investigation, conducting interviews and processing evidence. Officials said the school is no longer a crime scene and expect it to re-open on Monday. | About 50 FBI agents were involved with the investigation, conducting interviews and processing evidence. Officials said the school is no longer a crime scene and expect it to re-open on Monday. |