15-year-old student stabbed at McKinley High School

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A 15-year-old male student from McKinley High School is in serious, but stable condition after he was stabbed Monday afternoon inside the school along Elmwood Avenue in the City of Buffalo.

According to Buffalo Police, the student was stabbed by another student after a fight took place inside a stairwell at the school. A third individual was also involved in the altercation.

"At approximately 1:10 p.m. today at McKinley High School, during the transition between classes, a fight ensued in the stairwell just off of the hallway. And all of this was captured on the McKinley School security cameras," detailed Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia during a Monday press briefing. "A fight ensued in that hallway, where one student drew out a knife and stabbed the other student multiple times. This occurred very quickly, it was very quickly evolving.

"The student that did the stabbing ran out of the hallway. Within seconds of that student that did the stabbing left the hallway, a school security officer came down the stairs and was on scene, and guided and assisted that victim down to the nurse's office, where police were called."

The student was transported by ambulance to Oishei Children's Hospital after he was stabbed three times - once in the neck, once in the back and once in the arm. Gramaglia says while the student's injures were serious in nature, he is expected to survive his injuries.

"Certainly, we are feeling relieved that the student who was hurt is going to be OK," said Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams Knight during Monday's press briefing. "I have been pretty consistent about my expectations for safety. We want all children able to report to school, and for parents to know their children are safe."

A knife that was believed to have been used during the stabbing was recovered by staff on site at the school. Gramaglia says it is still trying to be determined just how this knife got past the school's security system.

Officials say shortly after the incident, the school issued a "shelter in place" while the school was being stabilized.

The two students who attacked the 15-year-old inside McKinley High School were found in a third floor classroom when Buffalo police officers took them into custody. No charges have been issued at this time, but Gramaglia says his department is working with the Erie County District Attorney's Office to determine what charges should be filed.

As it turns out, this is not the first time these three individuals have been involved in a similar altercation.

"The three individuals that were involved in this, and the two primary individuals, they are known to each other. And this stems from an incident that occurred earlier this summer," Gramaglia noted. "In July, there was a stabbing incident that occurred on Main Street around the Fountain Plaza area. What we are being told as of right now, these are the same individuals that were involved in that incident that occurred. This was not a random act, this was a known situation. A known assailant, known victim in this case based on that earlier summer incident."

Meanwhile, Dr. Williams Knight is asking parents and guardians to be in communication with their kids about what may be going on in school. She is also asking the students at Buffalo Public Schools that if you see or hear something, don't be afraid to bring it to the attention of an adult.

"If your child tells you that they have an issue with another student, please notify the building leadership. For students that may be listening, if you are having any difficulties with another student, please let one of the adults in the school know. Students that see something, please, you have to say something. And we want to intervene as early as possible to prevent something like this from happening," Dr. Williams Knight said.

Classes at McKinley High School are expected to resume as usual, according to Dr. Williams Knight.

"This was a targeted situation. Tomorrow, we will have our crisis response team out at the school. I believe we'll have some extra security at the school," she said. "Our counselors will be prepared to speak with children or staff that may feel they need to talk about this incident. And I believe there will be a presence tomorrow from our SROs."