An 11-year-old boy is in custody after he stabbed two teachers with a kitchen knife at Castor Gardens Middle School in Northeast Philadelphia, police said. NBC10’s Leah Uko has the latest on the investigation and speaks with students and parents who claim the school has had ongoing security issues.
An 11-year-old boy is in custody after he stabbed two teachers with a kitchen knife at a Philadelphia middle school on Tuesday, police said.
The double stabbing took place at Castor Gardens Middle School on 1800 Cottman Avenue at 12:11 p.m. Police say the boy, who attends the school, took out a kitchen knife and stabbed a 63-year-old woman in the side and a 31-year-old woman in the arm. Both victims are teachers at the school.
"He took out the knife at some point," Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said. "The students alerted the teachers. They moved to make sure no one was injured and they were injured. So they kept anyone else from being injured."
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The 63-year-old teacher was taken to the hospital and was visibly distraught as paramedics placed her in the ambulance. While police have not yet revealed her condition, Castor Gardens Middle School Principal Dr. Shawn McGuigan said she suffered minor injuries.
The 31-year-old teacher refused medical treatment.
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The student was taken into custody and police recovered the knife, according to investigators. Vanore told NBC10 the boy's parents are also speaking with police.
"It's my understanding the student has some developmental issues," Vanore said.
In a letter sent to the school community, Dr. McGuigan said the school was placed on lockdown and that all of the students were safe. The lockdown lasted for about 90 minutes before it was lifted.
"We started praying," one student told NBC10. "We all sat in a circle. There was only the four of us. We each said our own prayer over our own families and everybody in the school."
After hearing about the stabbing, many parents rushed to the school to get their children out.
"They don't do nothing for our kids over here," Armando Aguilar, a parent of a student, told NBC10. "It's not safe."
Efrain Torres, the grandfather of a student, told NBC10 he had major concerns over security at the school.
"Are they really checking them? How thorough are they going through their stuff?" he asked. "I understand sometimes it's privacy but sometimes somebody's security in life is worth more than privacy."
A student at the school also spoke to NBC10 about the security issues.
"The metal detectors go off and people don't check the bags and stuff of the children that go through the metal detectors," the student said.
Philadelphia School District spokesperson Monique Braxton addressed the security complaints.
"I know nothing about a lapse in security at Castor Gardens," she said. "I can tell you that the student did arrive, did go through the metal detector and it did not pick up the knife. So that is going to be investigated by the Office of School Safety."
In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Braxton wrote that both teachers were treated and are recovering.
"Philadelphia Police are working closely with the Office of School Safety, District leaders, and the parents of the student to investigate and understand all of the circumstances surrounding this incident," Braxton wrote. "The School District of Philadelphia is focused on the safety and well-being of the entire school community. The student did pass through a minimally-invasive free-standing metal detector when he entered the building. School Safety Officers are conducting an inspection of the detector. All district middle and high schools have metal detectors."
