Police in Tacoma, Washington, responded to a report of a possible stabbing at a high school on Thursday, finding four students and an adult security guard injured, authorities said. The suspect, a student, was taken into custody and also sustained injuries, according to Shelbie Boyd, a spokesperson for the Tacoma Police Department.
Response and Injuries
All injured individuals, including the suspect, were transported to a hospital. The Tacoma Fire Department arrived at Foss High School at 1:38 p.m. following a report of a possible stabbing, said Chelsea Shepherd, a fire department spokesperson. Crews treated and transported five patients to local hospitals: four in critical condition and one with minor injuries. The sixth injured person, who was in police custody, was also taken to a local hospital with minor injuries. By late afternoon, all were reported in stable condition.
Shepherd did not specify the types of injuries treated. Boyd confirmed, “The school is secure, and we are currently investigating. Parents can pick up their kids in the student’s parking lot. There’s a reunification area there.”
School Response and Aftermath
The school went into lockdown at 1:38 p.m., and students were safely dismissed at 2:45 p.m., according to an emailed statement from Tacoma Public Schools. School and after-school activities scheduled for Friday were canceled. The school will reopen on Monday, with counselors present to support students and staff.
“We are grateful for the quick, calm action of our staff and our first responders,” the district said in its statement.
