A 16-year-old was charged with stabbing three classmates at Pittsburgh’s Carrick High School on Wednesday morning.
Pittsburgh police, firefighters and EMS personnel were dispatched to the school for a “critical incident,” Pittsburgh Public Safety said Wednesday morning. A student used a “small knife” to injure three students aged 15 to 18 years old, a spokesperson for Pittsburgh Public Schools said.
Of the three students injured, one was treated and released at the scene, one was transported to UPMC Children’s Hospital in stable condition, and a third was taken to UPMC Mercy with a more serious injury, officials said.
Police announced Wednesday night that 16-year-old Anthony Taulton was charged with three counts of aggravated assault, possessing instruments of crime and possession of a weapon on school property.
Authorities said Taulton also sustained a laceration to his hand. He was treated at the scene by medics before being turned over to the police. Pittsburgh Public Schools said Taulton is new to the district.
The school was placed on lockdown and remained in “secure” status for the rest of the day, meaning outside doors remained locked, officials said.
Following the incident, staff worked with families who arrived at the scene to conduct a controlled release of students to their parents, the Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson added.
Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Wayne Walters said in a statement that he is “deeply concerned” for the injured students. He thanked the first responders “for their immediate and coordinated response.”
Mayor Ed Gainey said in a statement that the stabbing is a reminder that the Pittsburgh community “has a role to play in creating spaces” for young people.
Counselors are available to support students this week, and Carrick High will be remote for the rest of the week.
Parents “scared” after school stabbing
As parents raise questions, Pittsburgh Public Schools Chief of School Safety Dena Young said investigators will review security footage.
“I’m scared. I don’t even want him to come back to school. I want to sign him out of here and go to another school,” said Mark Sheehan, who has a freshman son at Carrick.
The 16-year-old boy allegedly had some issues with other students. His mother brought it to the attention of the school district on Wednesday morning.
“She told us this morning, but it was simultaneously as when this happened, before the school could try to investigate,” Young said.
For parents, they want to know how a student with a knife got past metal detectors, bag checks, and four security guards.
“I was shook when I saw it. I was surprised that somebody would even do that,” Carrick freshman Mark Sheehan said.
The 16-year-old accused in the stabbing has not yet been charged as of Wednesday evening. Pittsburgh police is investigating.
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