Thursday, October 21, 2004

This morning Lurella Amica went to her daughter’s school to deliver a note to her.  When 9-year-old Valentine Swarn told her mother that her teacher, Katrina Ann Rucker, threw her bag in the trash can, Lurella entered the classroom.  She intended to retrieve the bag, but Katrina beat her to it.  The two ladies struggled over possession of the bag until Lurilla was able to take possession of it.  As she turned back to her daughter, Katrina picked up a chair and knocked Lurilla to the floor with it.  Katrina, 30 and in her first few months with the district, began to pummel Lurella, striking blows on her face and body in general.  Valentine began to cry for her teacher to stop hitting her mother and rushed up to the fighting ladies to try and intervene.  Katrina hit Valentine, pulled her hair and pushed her out of the way before continuing to assault Lurella.  Katrina then dragged Lurella out into the hallway where a school administrator and another teacher was able to pull her off of Lurella.  Lurella was taken to The Medical Center of Central Georgia for treatment and Katrina as arrested and charged with battery and cruelty to children (as there was 19 fourth graders in the classroom at the time).

 Source: Macon Telegraph - Teacher Arrested After Parent Beaten In Front of Students

Celebration High School, Celebration, Florida

Thursday, October 21, 2004

Further along the eastern seaboard, another act of school violence pops up near the Everglades.  Three male students got into a fight this morning in their school’s courtyard, presumably over a girl, but the newspaper didn’t verify that point by the time it printed the story.  The combatants included 16-year-old David Batista, a friend of his and 15-year-old Angel Ruiz.  During the fight, Angel pulled out a 3-inch pocketknife.  The fist of David’s friend proved stronger as he knocked Angel to the ground.  David then picked up the knife and threw it at Angel.  The knife embedded itself  in its owner and created a half-inch cut requiring stitches. After his recovery, Angel was arrested on charges of possession of weapon on school property and aggravated assault.  David was arrested for aggravated battery.

Source: Orlando Sentinel - 2 Celebration Students Arrested in Fight; 1 Hurt

 Thurgood Marshall High School, Baltimore, Maryland

 Thursday, October 21, 2004

The fifth act of school violence for today happened in Baltimore with a 16-year-old shooting his classmates.  Earlier this semester Antonio Williamson transferred to Thurgood Marshall High School after being expelled from Lake Clifton / Eastern High School.  His lengthy juvenile record came with him, including an open warrant for running away while being supervised by the state Department of Juvenile Services.  Earlier this week, a friend of Lamar Taylor had been involved in a fight over a girl.  The friend, Lamar and several other students were expelled for the fracas.  Lamar wanted to pickup some of his belongings from the school, so he asked his brother, Terrell Scott, to accompany him. When they arrived at the school courtyard, three young men that Lamar didn't know approached the brothers and asked if he knew a guy named Bobby.  Bobby is Lamar's friend and was involved the fracas earlier this week.  Lamar said, "He's one of my friends." The trio then opened fire, striking Lamar in his hip and Terrell in the leg.  The two brothers fled the scene, but didn't get far.  They collapsed in the median of Moravia Road, where Lamar's girlfriend rushed to his side until the paramedics arrived.  Antonio was arrested and charged with two counts each of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and several handgun offenses.

THE INJURED:

Source: Baltimore Sun - Marshall Student, 16, Is Arrested in Shootings

A Secondary School in Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province, China

Wednesday, November 3, 2004

Xu Lin is an introvert, paranoid and believes that one of his roommates looks down on him.  He enrolled in school in September and shared a dorm room with five other boys.  He didn't socialize with them.  Guo Ruofei is one of Xu's roommates and often criticized him for littering the room.  Xu, 19, believe that Guo was looking down on him.  They quarreled often and had several physical fights.  Yesterday, they fought again.  By now, however, Xu wanted revenge.  He went out an purchased a dagger.  About 4 this morning, he stabbed Guo to death as he slept in his bunk.  The commotion awoke Yu Lei on the upper bunk.  Yu shouted to Xu, asking him what was going on.  Xu stabbed Yu to death.  By now his three remaining roommates were awake.  He threatened to kill them if they shouted at him.  He robbed them of 60 yuan (a mere $7.40), stole a bicycle and fled to his aunt's house.  He was arrested two days later.  On Thursday, September 29, 2005, Xu was executed by Chinese authorities for murdering Guo and Yu.

Source: Shanghai Daily - Student Slayer Executed

Ravensmead Senior Secondary School, Ravensmead, Western Cape, South Africa

Friday, November 5, 2004

This morning, 18-year-old Howard Collins found a gun on his way to school.  He picked it up and intended to give it to the police.  However, time got away from our young man and he went to school with the gun.  In one of the school's stairwells, he took out the gun and showed it to his friends, one of whom was 16-year-old Lee-Roy Samuels.  The gun went off and struck Lee-Roy in the head.  He was rushed to Tygerberg Hospital and declared brain dead.  He died on Saturday.  Howard turned himself into police after the shooting, which was reported as accidental.

Source: iol.co.za - Boy Brain Dead After School Shooting; iol.co.za - Students Traumatized After Classmate's Death

A High School in Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Friday, November 5, 2004

An unknown male assailant stabbed a 15-year-old male student in the neck in the school's gym today.  The instigator used a kitchen knife and fled the scene.

Source: National School Safety and Security Services web site

A Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland

Friday, November 5, 2004

Another 15-year-old student was also stabbed today, this time in Baltimore.  As she left a restroom just after 3:20 p.m., the young co-ed was stabbed in her thigh.  The report didn't state much more than that.

Source: National School Safety and Security Services web site

An Islamic School in Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Monday, November 8, 2004

On Tuesday, November 2, 2004, film-maker Theo van Gogh was shot and stabbed to death in Amsterdam.  Police found a letter on Theo's body signed by an unknown group that threaten to kill politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali for writing the script to Theo's Submission, a very controversial film that criticized the treatment of women under Islam. Over the next six days, mosques in Dutch cities were targeted by vandals and arsonists (who turned out not to be the brightest ones in the bunch as many of their fires failed to cause the desired amount of damage).  Early this morning, those thugs planted a "strong bomb or explosive" at an Islamic school in Eindhoven that detonated at 2:30 a.m.  The blast caused heavy damage as it destroyed doors and windows.  Nobody was in the school at the time of the blast.  Police investigated the bombing for links to Theo's killing.

Source: BBC News - Dutch Muslim School Hit By Bomb

Bedir Islamic Primary School, Uden, The Netherlands

Tuesday, November 9, 2004

The next day, the arsonists were at the top of their game as they torched an Islamic school in Uden, in southern Holland.  Graffiti was scrawled on the walls of the scorched building and no one was injured.  However, the building was severely damaged. On Wednesday, June 1, 2005, five minors were sentenced to detention and community service in a Dutch courtroom.  Of the five, three of them were responsible for torching the Bedir Islamic Primary School.  Their names were not released, but their ages were: 14, 15 and 16.

Source: BBC News - Dutch Islamic School Set Ablaze; International Herald Tribune - 5 Dutch Minors Sentenced

Booker T. Washington High School, New Orleans, Louisiana

Friday, November 12, 2004

New Orleans public schools security guard Tomeka Thomas noticed a 16-year-old male student smoking marijuana at noon today behind the school.  She approached him and he became belligerent and aggressive.  He pushed Tomeka away and reached under his shirt for a weapon.  Tomeka, 28, drew her .38-caliber revolver and shot the boy in the foot.  No weapon was found on the boy.

Source: The Times-Picayune - Shooting at School

A High School in Newburgh, New York

Friday, November 12, 2004

Also today, a female assistant principal was assaulted by a 16-year-old male student who, even though he was suspended, showed up on campus.  The boy punched her in her face and then tried to inflict bodily harm with a 10-inch butcher knife.  A school security officer was able to pull the boy away before he could stab the assistant principal.

Source: National School Safety and Security Services web site

An Elementary School in Gary, Indiana

Monday, November 15, 2004

This is the first act of school violence in a very active week.  While picking up her child from school this afternoon, a 28-year-old mother was wounded when two men in the area began shooting at each other.  The reported stated she wasn't a target of the two men, just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time.

Source: National School Safety and Security Services web site

Parker High School, Birmingham, Alabama

Monday, November 15, 2004

This evening after the basketball game with Ensley High School had wrapped up around 9:00, a female told a group of males that a man had slapped her across her face. They set out to teach the man a lesson.  She told the group of males that her attacker was 20-year-old Antwin Eavns.  As Antwin left the gym, the group of males drove by and shot him in the abdomen.  Antwin was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment.  Police arrested 20-year-old Obray Carter at the school and charged him with attempted murder.

Source: NBC 13 News - Man Shot at Birmingham High School; Birmingham News - Man Charged in Game Shooting; Visitor to this site

East Cobb Middle School, Marietta, Georgia

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Two 13-year-old girls baked up a cake today and served it to at least a dozen of their classmates.  Some of the ingredients in the cake included: bleach, clay, tabasco sauce and an expired prescription drug. The students who ate the cake began to vomit and suffer from headaches and diarrhea.  They were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital where they were treated and released. The young girls were taken into custody, one arrested at the school and the other was arrested this evening.  They were held at the Cobb County Juvenile Detention Center  without bond.  One was charged with terrorists acts, 12 counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit murder and interference with government property.  The other girl was only charged with 12 counts of aggravated assault with intent to commit murder.  The girls will be charged as juveniles by Cobb County Juvenile Court Judge Steve Schuster.

Source: Marietta Daily Journal - Police: Girls Used Bleach, Glue in Recipe, Sickening 12 Students

Hempstead High School, Hempstead, New York

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Around 12:15 this afternoon, Olman Herrera was walking two blocks from the school when a red four-door sedan pulled up along side him.  Several people jumped out of the car and stabbed Olman twice in the chest before getting back in the car and fleeing the scene.  Olman staggered a few paces and collapsed at the corner of Linden Avenue and Peninsula Boulevard.  He was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Center and was pronounced dead just 40 minutes later.  His parents believe gang members killed their son.  Olman had been approached to join a gang and refused.  He was also wearing a light blue sweater, the color of a gang (presumably a different gang that had approached him to become a member).

Source: New York Times - 17-Year-Old Is Stabbed to Death While Leaving L. I. School

Battery Creek High School, Beaufort, South Carolina

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

This evening, Battery Creek High played Jasper County High in a basketball practice game.  Around 6:30 p.m., while the game was still in progress inside the school's gym, Daron Morgan and Terry Isaacs, both 20, were getting into an argument.  The climax to the argument came when Terry pulled out a small-caliber handgun and shot Daron twice in his left side.  Terry then ran through the crowd in the gym before fleeing the campus entirely. Daron was taken to the hospital for treatment. Police were still looking for Terry by the end of the week. Neither Daron nor Terry were students of Battery Creek High School.

Source: Island Packet - Man Shot Outside Battery Creek High Gym; Island Packet - Shooting Suspect Remains at Large

Apopka Memorial Middle School, Apopka, Florida

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

While inside one of the boy's restrooms, a 14-year-old fired his father's 9mm handgun.  The bullet ricocheted off the bathroom floor, tore through the wall and landed in the girl's restroom next door.  A girl was in the girl's restroom, but was not injured by the bullet.  The boy ran out of the bathroom and into class, the gun still in his possession.  Police arrested the boy and charged him with carrying a firearm on campus.

Source: Orlando Sentinel - Teen Fires Gun at School

Hazelwood Elementary-Middle School, Baltimore, Maryland

Thursday, November 18, 2004

Today two 14-year-old boys continued this unending string of school violence.  One was standing on a field outside of the school around 3:00 p.m. when the other attacked him for no apparent reason.  The instigator stabbed the boy, who didn't go to school at Hazelwood, four times in the back and once in the shoulder with a sharp instrument.  Police arrested the instigator near the scene and he is now face felony charges.  The wounded 14-year-old was taken to Hopkins Hospital where he was listed in good condition as evening approached.

Source: Baltimore Sun - Eighth-grader is Recovering After Stabbing Outside School

SCECGS Redlands (High) School, Cremorne, Sydney, Australia

Friday, November 19, 2004

On the playground at the exclusive co-educational school a 14-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome stabbed a 13-year-old classmate four times in the back with a serrated-edge kitchen knife.  The wounded boy was transported to the hospital for his injuries while the attacker was charged with malicious wounding, maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm and having custody of a knife in a school.  Because he suffers from Asperger's syndrome, Magistrate Paul Mulroney dismissed all charges against him on February 2, 2005 as long as the boy continues to get medical treatment.  Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism.

Source: The Australian - Charges Dismissed Due to Mental Health

Strawberry Mansion High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Monday, November 22, 2004

Desmond Keels, 15, and Jalil Speaks, 16 made a $50.00 bet last Friday.  The bet concerned the outcome of a rap contest.  Jalil lost the bet an apparently Desmond's patience was wearing thin.  Today, the young instigator shot and killed Jalil just outside Strawberry Mansion High School.  Desmond also wounded three other students while he fired his gun.  Desmond was charged with murder, possession of a weapon, three counts of aggravated assault and six counts of reckless endangerment.  His lawyer, Michael Coard, contests that Desmond committed no crime and would pursue that avenue of defense at a preliminary hearing on December 8, 2004. 

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer - Teen Murder Suspect Gives Up

Woodlawn High School, Baltimore, Maryland

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

This afternoon, 40-year-old Crystal Heckstall, her 18-year-old daughter Tracie Hollingsworth and her 18-year-old niece Sierra Williams all came to Woodlawn High to settle a dispute with a student.  They found the unnamed student in the cafeteria at 1:30 p.m. and a fight started. A police officer assigned to the school was able to break up the fight before it got out of hand and no one was injured.  However, other students seized the opportunity by starting two more fights while the police and school administrators were sorting out the first fight. These two fights were also broken up, and immediately afterwards, another student tried to rob his classmate outside of the building.  In all, Crystal, Tracie and Sierra were arrested and charged with two counts of assault and once count of trespassing on school property.  The would be robber was also charged.

Source: Baltimore Sun - Dispute Leads to Fights, Arrest of 3 Women at Woodlawn High

Pinewood Primary School, Drumchapel, Scotland

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Of this act of school violence, the Strathclyde Police said only that: "A 47-year-old woman was injured following an incident at the school."  The instigator is an 8-years-old and the teacher needed to transported to the hospital for her wounds.

Source: BBC News - Child Facing School Attack Probe

Valparaiso High School, Valparaiso, Indiana

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

On the last day of school before the Thanksgiving holiday, 15-year-old James Lewerke wrecks havoc on his classmates. In first period Spanish class, which starts at 8:00 a.m., the schedule for the day was to watch a video.  During the viewing, James pulled out a machete and a serrated knife and began stabbing his classmates.  He was able to slash five of his fellow students before fleeing the room.  Teachers followed and assistant principal George Gordon caught up to him in the hallway by the gymnasium.  George grabbed James's arm who then turned toward him, raising the knife.  George charged into James and tackled him in the hallway.  A total of eight students, including James, went to the hospital to treat the severe cuts with most of them being released later in the day.  James was taken into custody.  He was charged with six counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal recklessness.

Source: CNN - Indiana High School Students Injured in Knife Attack; The Indianapolis Star - School Violence Around the World; WNDU Channel 16 - Accused Valparaiso Stabber in Court; ABC 7 Chicago - Hearing Will Decide Next Step for Valparaiso School Stabbing Suspect

Number 2 High School, Ruzhou, Henan Province, China

Thursday, November 25, 2004

While we in America were celebrating Thanksgiving, school violence marched on without skipping a beat.  A man broke into the dormitory of the school at 11:45 this evening and stabbed nine boys to death as they slept.  He also wounded four others, two of them seriously.  All of the boys, 16- and 17-years-old, who died were sleeping in the lower bunks and were in at least three separate dormitories. The man escaped and was still at large until his mother reported him to the police when he tried to commit suicide.  Police arrested 21-year-old Yan Yanming on Friday. On Tuesday, January 18, 2005, not even two months after the killings, Yan was executed in Pingdingshan City, in the Henan Province of China.

Source: BBC News - Eight Boys Killed at China School; BBC News - Man Held Over China School Deaths; China.org.cn - Killer of Nine Students Executed

Thornton Township High School, Harvey, Illinois

Monday, November 29, 2004

School violence book ended the Thanksgiving holiday with this stabbing, not all that far from Valparaiso.  A 14-year-old freshman boy had been bullied by a 17-year-old senior, also a boy, for over a month before the younger boy just couldn't take it anymore.  Today, as the two were walking into their reading classes, they exchanged words. The senior reportedly sucker punched the freshman and the young boy pulled out a three-inch pocket knife.  The freshman stabbed the senior in the abdomen. The wounded boy was taken to St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields and was in good condition by the next morning.  The young instigator was taken into custody but then later released to his mother.  Police wanted to talk to the bully before brining charges against the freshman.  The freshman had purchased the knife at a flea market at about the same time the bullying began.  Thornton Township High School has about 2,500 students and no metal detectors.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Police Say Bullied H. S. Freshman Stabbed Senior

Southwestern High School, Baltimore, Maryland

Monday, November 29, 2004

About 9:40 this morning, a fight between two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy broke out near the main office on the first floor.  Two of the boys were chasing the third in the hall just before third period when one of the boys (presumably the 16-year-old) suddenly pulled out a knife. He stabbed Edward Brown in his left hand and the other unidentified boy on his right arm.  Both of the wounded 15-year-olds were taken to the hospital and treated.  The 16-year-old boy was arrested. 

Source: Baltimore Sun - Two Boys, Both 15, Stabbed in Fight at Southwestern High School

Santa Cruz High School, Santa Cruz, California

Monday, November 29, 2004

For the first time in over a month, school violence hits the west coast.  Ironically, in the morning all three of the participants were in a conflict resolution session.  By mid-afternoon, they forgot what they had learned just a few hours earlier.  Around 3:15 this afternoon, on the south side of the school's Walnut Street entrance, a 13-year-old girl had gone to the school to meet a friend.  Another 13-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl followed her there and the three girls began fighting over a boy.  None of the girls went to school at SCHS.  The fight was actually broken up by a bystander at one point.  But then the 13-year-old girl who had arrived first was stabbed three times in the back with either a broken bottle or knife by the other 13-year-old girl.  The 14-year-old girl struck the younger girl and pulled her hair. The wounded girl staggered to a nearby light post where help arrived.  She was taken to Dominican Hospital for treatment.  The instigators fled the scene and headed toward downtown Santa Cruz.  Police pursued their suspects and arrested them.  The 13-year-old stabber was placed into a group home and sentenced to 250 hours of community service.  The 14-year-old attacker was also sentenced to 250 hours of community service, but was released to her grandmother's care.

Source: Santa Cruz Sentinel - Teen Girl Stabbed at S. C. High; Santa Cruz Sentinel - Judge Releases Teen in High School Stabbing

Broadoak High School, Partington, Trafford, England

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Today, an argument between three boys in an annex building at the rear of the school ended with David Thomas Sandham, 15, being transported to Trafford General Hospital where he died 35 minutes later.  The two boys fighting with David, both 14 years-old, were arrested later in the day.  The news story didn't say what led to David's death, but it did say that no weapons were used in this fight.  Trafford is near Manchester.

Source: BBC News - Teenager Dies After School Fight

Peacemaker and Family Health Center (College), Hillbrow, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Wednesday, December 1, 2004

Two men and a woman entered the nursing academy today under the pretense of enrolling the woman in the school.  As the conversation drew out, one of trio pulled out a gun and demanded the money in the register.  Nursing student Thando Mncube intervened and was shot in the chest while Principal Bernard Mafora was shot in the face.  Both men died at the school.  Early Wednesday morning, police had arrested two men and two women for murder, armed robbery and for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Source: iol.co.za - Police Nab Four in Nursing School Shooting

Longview High School, Longview, Texas

Wednesday, December 1, 2004

In defiance of school rules, 17-year-old D'Joun Marquis Gardner wore a ball cap today.  Teacher Betty Lorenz told D'Joun to remove the cap, but he walked away from her.  Betty went after D'Joun in an attempt to remove the ball cap, but he pushed her to the floor.  While on the floor, she tried to trip and kick the undisciplined boy.  She got back on her feet and followed him trying to remove the ball cap.  D'Joun kept pushing her away and eventually got away from her.  He never removed the ball cap.  Betty sustained injuries to her ribs, wrist and shoulder contusions.  On Monday, September 12, 2005, D'Juan pleaded guilty to assaulting a public servant.  He was sentenced the following day to five years in prison.

Source: Longview News-Journal - Teen Gets 5 Years in Teacher Assault Case

Central Primary School, Mingcheng Township, Panshi, Jilin Province, China

Friday, December 3, 2004

After a week of peace in the most populated country in the world, school violence returns with over a dozen injuries.  Around 9:00 this morning, Liu Zhigang scaled the school's fence while carrying a kitchen knife.  He stabbed 12 first-graders and then cut his own throat before being restrained by school staff and police.  The 30-year-old stabbed five boys and seven girls.  Four of the children had serious injuries to their heads, backs and arms. Liu was rushed to the hospital.  Amazingly, police had seen Liu before, in 1994 when he stabbed an undisclosed amount of people during a fight provoked by a mental disease.  It wasn't until five days later that doctors were able to diagnose Liu with schizophrenia and melancholy during the attack.  Because of this condition, Liu can not be held responsible for the injuries.  The children were to be released from the hospital on Thursday, December 9, 2004.

Source: China.org.cn - Man Stabs 12 Pupils in NE China; China.org.cn - Man Assaulting Pupils Is Schizophrenic

Springfield Gardens High School, New York City, New York

Friday, December 3, 2004

At the end of the week, school violence was back on the east coast in the city that never sleeps.  In the school's locker room, four boys began fighting around 10:45 a.m.  It started with head-butting, then escalated to stabbing when Andrew Maxwell, 19, stabbed the youngest boy in the group, 15, in the shoulder.  The boy was in stable condition at Mary Immaculate Hospital while Andrew was charged with second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon.  The two other combatants, Martain Miller, 18, and Gavin McFarlane, 19 were charged with second-degree assault.

Source: New York Post - HS Gym Rats Stab Queens Kid: Cops

West Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte, North Carolina

Tuesday, December 7, 2004

While American veterans remembered their lost brothers and sisters at Pearl Harbor, school violence made this day very memorable for a 15-year-old boy and his 14-year-old girlfriend.  The young couple was horsing around with a box cutter at an after school tutorial program when she cut him on his thigh.  He was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center for treatment.  Officials had not made anymore announcements by the time the brief was published.

Source: The Charlotte Observer - West Meck Student's Leg Slashed With Box Cutter

Uwchlan Hills Elementary School, Uwchlan, Pennsylvania

Wednesday, December 8, 2004

An incendiary device went off tonight sometime between 10:30 and 11 p.m. in a breezeway between the school and a modular addition.  There were two custodians present at the time of the blast who investigated the explosion, but not the breezeway for they had secured it earlier in the night, and found no sign of damage at the school.  However, in the morning another custodian noticed the damaged to the school and called police.  Shattered glass and damaged aluminum soffits abounded, but no structural damage was reported.  School officials sent the incoming children to Lionville Elementary School while the explosion was investigated further.  No body was injured and police do not believe this bomb is linked to the more than 20 bombs found in recent months in the area (Chester and Montgomery Counties).

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer - Explosion Cancels Classes at Uwchlan

Whitehaven High School, Memphis, Tennessee

Thursday, December 9, 2004

Today in Memphis, Brooke Duncan accused Dovae Brinson and Donita Mickens of approaching her in a threatening manner in front of the school office.  Brooke and Dovae already had a feud going before this.  Brooke pushed Dovae, and Dovae pulled out a pair of scissors at that point.  Dovae stabbed Brooke twice in the head.  Dovae dropped the scissors and Brooke picked them up to stab Donita on her hand.  All three girls are 14-years-old.  Brooke was taken to Regional Medical Center in Memphis and Donita was taken to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center for treatment.  Dovae was charged with aggravated assault.

Source: Memphis Commercial Appeal - Two Girls Injured With Scissors in Fight at Whitehaven High School

Lakeside High School, Spokane, Washington

Thursday, December 9, 2004

Around 1:20 in the afternoon, in the school's entryway, 16-year-old Skyler Cullitan shot himself in the head.  He died this evening from the wound.  Police found a canister containing fireworks, shotgun shells and rifle cartridges in his backpack.

Source: National School Safety Center's Report on School Associated Violent Deaths; National School Safety and Security Services web site

Bramalea Secondary School, Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Friday, December 10, 2004

Riccardo Terzi, a student at Bramalea, backed his car into a parking space at 11:05 this morning.  Just north of his spot, he could see a man crouched down between the vehicles.  The man was 62-year-old Erhun Candir.  Minutes later, Aysegul Candir, a 47-year-old English-as-a-second-language teacher at Bramalea, pulled her Honda into a spot five spaces east of Riccardo's car.  He saw the man run to Aysegul's car and seconds later he heard a gunshot.  He heard a scream and then a second gunshot.  Then in his rear view mirror, he saw Erhun fleeing the scene.  Riccardo gave chase to Erhun, who had rounded the corner of the school.  When he turned the corner, Riccardo saw Erhun get into a 2005 Pontiac Montana minivan and drive away.  He called 911 on his cell phone and went to Aysegul's car.  The door was open and she was laying on the ground with a big puddle of blood underneath her head.  She had been shot in the head and hip.  Erhun killed his wife for an undisclosed reason.  Erhun was arrested at his home.  Police still have not released a motive for this shooting.  On Monday, April 2, 2007, a jury sentenced Erhun to life in prison for killing his wife.  The jury had deliberated for three days before reaching their decision. The murder weapon still has not been found.

Source: CBC News - Teacher Dies After Shooting at High School; Brampton Guardian - Student Saw Man at Murder Scene, Court Told; CTV Toronto - Husband Gets Life for Killing Teacher at School

La Grange High School, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Monday, December 13, 2004

When his day at school finishes at 12:30 p.m., the 18-year-old male senior student gets into his car and leaves the campus.  Today, as he left, a hooded and masked black male got into his car as well and shot him in the leg.  This occurred in the teacher's parking lot next to where constructions crews were working.  Police continue to investigate this shooting.

Source: National School Safety and Security Services web site

Cloverdale High School, Cloverdale, Indiana

Monday, December 13, 2004

Also today, a 16-year-old male freshman stabbed himself in the side when he fell on a knife he had in his backpack.  He was treated and released from a nearby hospital, suspended from school and could be expelled.

Source: National School Safety and Security Services web site

McKitrick Elementary School, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

When two boys began fighting in school today, school administrators didn't think it would end in a shooting.  After the fight ended, one of the boys, who is seven, went home and got his pellet gun. He returned to the school and started firing as his classmates were leaving the building for recess.  Several students were shot at, including the young instigator's fighting companion.  Teachers were able to put a stop to the shooting and confiscated the rifle.  Police were called the boy was removed from the school. None of the students appeared to have injuries from the pellets and the police said this would have to be resolved by the school officials and social workers.  Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act doesn't apply to children under 12 and using a pellet gun is not a firearms offense.

Source: CBC News - 7-Year-Old Who Fired Pellet Gun Facing Suspension

Richmond State (Middle) School, Richmond, Texas

Friday, December 31, 2004

Even on New Year's Eve, school violence doesn't take the day off.  The Richmond State School serves Texas's mentally retarded children and is located about 30 miles southwest of Houston.  About 6 p.m. tonight in the dining hall of the school, Bedah Amwoka, a male food service employee, told co-worker Dorian Randle that he would "give her what people like you should get."  He then opened fire and shot her in the arm, leg and back.  Bedah, 38, left the dining hall for an area near the school's chapel where he committed suicide.  None of the other 500 people on the 241-acre campus were targeted by the gunman.

Source: Dallas Morning News - School Employee Shoots Co-worker, Kills Himself; Dallas Morning News - State School Employee Critically Wounded in Attack

Montbello High School, Denver, Colorado

Tuesday, January 4, 2005

Four days into the new year and school violence strikes again, even in the snowy foothills of the Rockies.  This afternoon at 1:28 p.m. in the school's cafeteria, 17-year-old Contrell Townsend and one of his classmates began to argue.  The war of words escalated to a physical struggle and then climaxed when Contrell was stabbed to death by 16-year-old Marcus Richardson.  Marcus stabbed Contrell three times and the whole argument-to-stabbing time span was only 22 seconds.  Marcus fled the school as Contrell collapsed onto the floor where students and teachers tried to stem the flow of blood from his chest.  Contrell was transported to the hospital where he died.  Marcus's father turned his son into police and they arrested him at 3:45 p.m. on investigation of first-degree murder.  Both of the boys were juniors and had at least one class together.  Ten days later, Marcus was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a weapon on school grounds.

Source: Denver Post - Student Slain in Cafeteria; The Denver Channel - Teen Charged As Adult in High School Stabbing; Denver Post - Stabbing at Montbello Over in Seconds

East Side Cadet Academy (High School), San Jose, California

Wednesday, January 5, 2005

The next afternoon, at 12:50 p.m., a 15-year-old boy with ties to a San Jose gang, entered a classroom of East Side and challenged a 16-year-old classmate.  The young instigator didn't stop at yelling, he stabbed the older boy several times with a knife.  At the end of the attack, the instigator ran out and turned himself in to the principal while the injured youth went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Police booked the instigator on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Source: San Jose Mercury News - Student Stabbed in Classroom

Murrell Dobbins Vocational-Technical High School, North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wednesday, January 5, 2005

As classes were letting out for the day at 2:48 p.m., 18-year-old James Boone was shot in the head just a few feet from the school building.  Witnesses reported four males fleeing west along Lehigh Avenue after the shooting.  Police began to search for the foursome.  James was transported to Temple University Hospital and listed in critical condition. James dropped out of Simon Gratz High School, also in North Philadelphia, and the shooting is believed to be gang related.  James died the next day as police narrowed down their search to a male between the ages of 16 and 23.  By Thursday, January 13, the police had their man.  Kurtis Graves, 16, was arrested and charged with killing James Boone.  After his arrest, friends of Kurtis began to threaten the students who witnessed the shooting, however police said they will arrest anyone who tries to intimidate a witness.  On Tuesday, October 18, 2005, Kurtis pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and a weapons charge.  He was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer - 18-Year-Old Man Shot Outside Dobbins High; Philadelphia Inquirer - Fatal Shooting New School Brings Probe; WPVI Channel 6 - Shoot Shooting Update; Centre Daily Times - News in Brief from Philadelphia

Parkway West Alternative Center for Education (High School), North Fayette, Pennsylvania

Friday, January 7, 2005

In a suspension-detention room at the school on the Old Steubenville Pike, a 16-year-old boy from Upper St. Clair stabbed a 17-year-old male classmate in the chest just after noon today.  After the stabbing, the instigator set the knife down on a desk and was detained by school personal until the police arrived.  The wounded boy was taken to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Oakland and listed in stable condition.

Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Student Stabbed at Alternative School

Benjamin Russell High School, Alex City, Alabama

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

For an unreported reason, a 14-year-old girl brings a knife to school today and stabs a 16-year-old male classmate in the thigh and cuts another classmate across the foot. She was suspended and faces assault charges.

Source: WSFA Channel 12 - Alex City Student Accused of Stabbing Other Students

Melville Elementary School, Melville, Louisiana

Thursday, January 13, 2005

A couple of sixth graders got into a fight this morning around 8:45. The fight climaxed when the female sixth grader stabbed the male sixth grader in the head with a pair of scissors.  The boy was treated at a hospital for his injuries.  Both students were released to their parents.

Source: KLFY Channel 10 - Melville School Fight

River City High School, West Sacramento, California

Friday, January 14, 2005

This afternoon, three carloads of gang members from south Sacramento pulled up to River City High School, grabbed a student by the name of Ivan and stabbed him.  One of the gang members said, "Remember me?" and then proceeded to stab Ivan four more times.  With Ivan at the time was his friend Billy Windsor.  The gang members beat up Billy and left the school.  Police believe this attack to be a case of mistaken identity as neither Ivan nor Billy have ties to any gangs. Ivan was transported to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery while Billy was back at school on Tuesday.

Source: News 10 - Student Stabbed at West Sacramento High School

Newport High School, Newport, Washington

Friday, January 14, 2005

After tonight's basketball game, four men ranging in age from 15 to 23, told an NHS student they were making a citizens arrest of him and ordered him out of his truck.  One of the attackers is an named 15-year-old from Spokane while the others are 17-year-old Jerry W. Clark,  19-year-old David Elmer and 23-year-old William Brogdon, none of whom attended the school.  The student  went back into the school and told his friends about what was happening outside.  Soon afterwards, 30 students went into the parking lot to stand up for their classmate.  The four men were quickly outnumbered and Jerry tried to even the fight by drawing a knife and using a broken bottle as a weapon.  Jerry injured two students with the broken bottle and then stabbed two more students.  Authorities were called in and they restored order, sent one of the wounded individuals to Sacred Heart Medical Center for treatment, the other three to Newport Community Hospital for their injuries and arrest the four attackers who had alcohol in their systems.  Charges ranged from rioting, attempted first degree robbery and second degree assault.  At the end of February 2005, Jerry pleaded guilty to two felony counts of second-degree assault.  When he did this, prosecutors charged him as a juvenile and not an adult.  He was sentenced in early March to 30-72 weeks in detention. The length Jerry's detention will be determined by the staff at Martin Hall Juvenile Detention Center and on his behavior. 

Source: KXLY Channel 4 - Students Injured in High School Stabbing; Bonner County Daily Bee - Teen Sentenced in Newport High Knife Attack.

Oak Ridge Elementary School, Sandwich, Massachusetts

Saturday, January 15, 2005

It's the weekend, and school violence marches on.  Today, Sandwich High School defeated Barnstable High School 88-86 in what was probably a very exciting basketball game.  During the game an adult with ties to Sandwich High made racial slurs to the Barnstable players.  After the game, students from both schools agreed to meet at Oak Ridge to continue the game in a more aggressive manor without the referees.  Oak Ridge Elementary is just down the road from Sandwich High School.  Over a dozen Barnstable students arrived to only half a dozen Sandwich students.  Shortly thereafter, a fight broke out. Sandwich basketball player Matt Payne was struck on the head with a liquor bottle by one Barnstable student.  17-year-old Matt was then stabbed in the chest.  Two more Sandwich students were injured: a female was punched in the face and another boy was stabbed in the arm.  Police arrived and those who could, fled the scene.  Matt was taken to Cape Cod Hospital and in stable condition Sunday night with a punctured lung.  Police were able to charge one of the Barnstable students with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (glass liquor bottle) and another Barnstable student with assault and battery (domestic, indicating a significant other was involved).  Both students are 16-years-old. Police also believe the racial slurs during the game is one of the factors that led to the meeting at Oak Ridge. Eight Barnstable basketball players were suspended for ten days while two Sandwich basketball players were suspended for three days and kicked off the team. A third Sandwich basketball player was also kicked off the team and banned from all school sports for the rest of the year.

Source: Boston Herald - Student Basketball Player Stabbed After High School Game; Town Online - Brawl Mars School Athletics; Cape Cod Times - Sandwich School Chief Suspends 3 Students

Passmore Elementary School, Alvin, Texas

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Another sixth grader joins my list when he shot himself in class today.  The boy brought his father's .22-caliber automatic pistol to school today and was playing with it while it was still in his pocket.  The gun fired and grazed the boy's leg.  A surprised substitute teacher in the language arts classroom asked her pupils, "What was that?" "That was my gun," the boy answered.  "I shot myself in the leg."  The wound was minor and he was treated at the school before being released to his parents.

Source: Houston Chronicle - Alvin Boy Shoots Himself in Leg

Addelita Cancryn Junior High School, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Friday, January 21, 2005

At 8:45 this morning, school monitors and faculty members noticed a group of boys fighting on school grounds.  When they approached the group of four, they saw that one had a bat and another had a hatchet.  They were pummeling an unnamed 13-year-old boy with the bat and hatchet on his head and neck.  Two of the instigators are 15 and the other two are 16.  As school personal broke up the fight, one younger boy and one older boy fled the campus.  One of the fleeing boys threw his black book bag onto the roof of a nearby building. The other two boys were arrested at the school.  The two boys who fled were later arrested in Western Cemetery.  Police found a small plastic bag of marijuana on the 15-year-old.  Witnesses told police about the book bag being thrown on the roof.  The police searched the roof, found the bag with the hatchet and a pad of paper with the boy's name on it.  The wounded boy had several lacerations on his head and may have a broken right hand.  A school nurse transported him to Schneider Hospital for treatment.  The instigators were charged with first-degree assault, disturbing the peace, delaying and obstructing police officers, resisting arrest and simple possession of marijuana.

Source: The Virgin Islands Daily News - Cancryn Student Beaten with Hatchet and Bat

California Sate University, Channel Islands, California

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Students were returning to CSU from Christmas break for the beginning of classes on Monday.  Early this morning (12:40 a.m.), in the Anacapa Village student housing complex, a 17-year-old male who was not a student at CSU began to struggle with somebody else.  A campus police officer arrived on the scene and the teenager tried to fight  him.  The campus police officer shot the boy in the stomach and had him transported to St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard with minor injuries.  At the hospital, the boy was taken into custody for investigation of assault with a deadly weapon.   The report didn't say who the boy attacked, what his name is, or what type of weapon was used.

Source: Fresno Bee - News Briefs From Southern California

Green Valley High School, Henderson, Nevada

Monday, January 24, 2005

Social studies teacher Howard Wade Bycroft tried to commit suicide in his classroom this morning by stabbing himself in the stomach.  He was found by a colleague at 6:47 a.m. and rushed to University Medical Center in Las Vegas where he was listed in serious condition.  Howard, 34, was a very popular teacher, was HIV positive and was the advisor for GVHS's Gay, Straight, Lesbian Pride Alliance.  Howard's long-term personal relationship had recently ended and was living out of the classroom, with indications that administrators were planning on telling him soon that he no longer could live at the school. Howard did leave a suicide note.

Source: Las Vegas Sun - Teacher Stabs Self in Stomach Before Class at Nevada School; Las Vegas Sun - Students, Colleagues Shocked By Teacher's Suicide Attempt

Woodruff High School, Peoria, Illinois

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

As students were roaming the third floor hallway between first and second periods this morning, 15-year-old Deon Alexander fired three shots at another student that he knew.  The school immediately went into lockdown and stayed that way for three hours while police searched for Deon.  Deon left the school after discharging the gun and was arrested at a relative's house later today.  Deon was charged as an adult with aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm.  In December he was convicted of unlawful discharge of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon.  On February 16, 2006, Judge Jim Shadid sentenced Deon to 24 years in prison.

Source: Week.com - 15-Year-Old in Custody For School Shooting; WAND TV - School Shooting; Pantagraph.com - Daily Digest for January 31, 2005; CBS 2 Chicago - Teen Gets 24 Years in Peoria School Shooting

Brinkley Middle School, Jackson, Mississippi

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

In a hallway at Brinkley Middle School, 13-year-old Regina Reynolds slashed Georgia Spells, 14, on her lower leg with a knife.  Both girls were suspended from school while police investigated the slashing further.  Regina's mother said that her daughter was being bullied.

Source: The Clarion-Ledger - Students Out of School After Knife Incident

Sacred Heart of Jesus Elementary School, Highland Falls, New York

Thursday, January 27, 2005

Christopher Rhodes dropped off his 7-year-old daughter, Jerica, just after 8 a.m. this morning at this Catholic school in New York.  By 9:30, a school employee found Jerica dead in a school restroom with 16 stab wounds.  Christopher, 27, was grilled by police as they cordoned off the street that he lives on and searched his home.  The police were looking for clothing evidence and apparently Christopher was wearing a jacket when he dropped off Jerica, but was not wearing one when he was picked up hours later in Newburgh, ten miles away. Late in the night Christopher, the son of former village police chief Linwood Rhodes, was brought to the Middletown State Police barracks for further questioning.  One police source said Jerica died from "the most vicious fit of rage" he had ever seen. By the weekend, Christopher was arrested for killing Jerica and charged with second-degree murder.  Christopher believed that Jerica was his daughter, but DNA tests on her body proved he was not.  On Tuesday, November 7, 2005, Christopher was convicted of second-degree murder by an Orange County jury.  On Wednesday, January 11, 2006, almost a year after killing Jerica, Christopher Rhodes was sentenced to 31 years to life in prison by Judge Jeffrey Berry.

Source: New York Post - Girl, 7, Slain Inside School; New York Post - "Slay Dad" Bust; Times Herald-Record - Highland Falls Suspect Seeking Release on Bail; WNBC Channel 4 - Upstate Man Guilty of Killing Girl, 7, Who Considered Him Her Dad; 1010 WINS - 31 Years for Orange County Child Killer

Shawnee High School, Louisville, Kentucky

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Today, the Lil Brothers and Lil Sisters of Louisville sponsored a mini-boot camp and life saving seminar at the high school, as they have done many times before.  One of their guests missed the message completely. As the guests were leaving, many of them students, a 14-year-old boy stabbed a 15-year-old boy.  The injured boy was taken to the hospital, underwent surgery on Sunday and listed in stable condition.

Source: WHAS Channel 11 - Teenager Stabbed at Shawnee High School; WLKY Channel 32 - Teen Stabbed After Non-Violence Event at Local School

Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, Kansas

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Late this evening two 19-year-old male students had an altercation with Mighty James Big Pond, also 19, and his older brother, David J. Big Pond, 21, at Club 508.  The altercation was minor and the students left the club.  Shortly after 10 p.m., the two students were walking on campus toward Red Cloud Hall when they saw the two Big Pond brothers.  The brothers started chasing the students and a fight in sued.  During the fight a knife was pulled by one of the brothers.  He slashed one of the students on his hand and abdomen.  David also suffered injuries during the fight and the brothers went to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for treatment, where they were arrested by police.  Mighty James and David J. Big Pond are charged with aggravated battery.

Source: Lawrence Journal-World - Two Charged in Stabbing at Haskell

An Elementary School in the Rafah Refugee Camp, Gaza Strip, Israel

Monday, January 31, 2005

Nuran Deeb, 10, went to school early today to play with her schoolmates.  While she was on the playground she was struck dead with a bullet to her head.  The young Palestinian girl suddenly screamed and fell to the ground in a pool of blood.  The other girls at the school began to run for cover and one of them, 7-year-old Aysha Khateeb,  was wounded in the hand.  The Israeli army said that it's troops had not opened fire in that part of Rafah.  They did say that nearby  Palestinians had been celebrating their return from a Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca by shooting guns into the air.  The Palestinian residents deny such a celebration took place.  Hours later, militants from Palestine fired half a dozen mortar shells at Jewish settlements in Gaza.  Nobody was wounded in the retaliation attack. The school is just over 800 meters from an Israeli post on the Gaza-Egypt border. It is in the Brazilian neighborhood of the camp and is run by the United Nations.

Source: BBC News - Death Strains Informal Gaza Truce; Detroit Free Press - Palestinian Schoolgirl Shot Dead; The Australian - Girl 10, Gunned Down in Schoolyard

Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

At 10:45 this morning, students were in line at the cafeteria.  Standing in line was a 14-year-old unnamed boy and a 13-year-old unnamed boy.  The younger boy was in front of the older boy and the older boy wanted to get in front of him.  The younger boy refused to give up his place in line.  The two boys began arguing and then pushed each other.  This led to the older boy stabbing the younger boy in the arm with a pencil.  The younger boy was taken to Schneider Hospital so that the pencil could be removed.  The older boy was arrested and charged with third-degree assault.

Source: The Virgin Islands Daily News - BCB Student, 14, Charged with Stabbing Peer with a Pencil

Ukhanyo Secondary School, Kwanonqubela, Alexandria, South Africa

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

A 20-year-old student came to school this evening with gun.  He entered a classroom, waved the gun around and then took aim on another 20-year-old student who was studying with friends.  The instigator shot him in the left upper arm.  The instigator was arrested and is believed to be charged with attempted murder.

Source: South Africa Broadcasting Corporation - Pupil Arrested After School Shooting

McNair High School, Atlanta, Georgia

Friday, February 4, 2005

After classes had been dismissed for the day, 15-year-old Angela Howard and her 19-year-old brother Angelo were still on school grounds.  Angela is pregnant and Angelo, who is not a student, has a gun in his hand.  He dropped the gun and it discharged a bullet into Angela's neck. She was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and listed in serious, but stable condition.  Angelo was arrested and charged with discharging a firearm on school property. 

Source: WXIA Channel 11 - Pregnant Teen Accidentally Shot

Cony High School, Augusta, Maine

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

This morning as students made their way to homeroom, a fight between two boys broke out.  At one point, Michael Swift, the bigger of the two, had Damion Fincher in a head lock and held the upper hand.  That is, until Damion, 16, began to fight in self defense.  He pulled out a small pocketknife and stabbed Michael five times.  After Michael had released him, Damion ran outside and vomited in an attempt to the rid himself of the sick feeling of what he had just done.  Both boys went to a separate hospital for his injuries.  Police arrest Damion the following Tuesday at his father's home and charged him with aggravated assault.  Police also charged Michael with assault.  On Wednesday, May 18, 2005, Damion pleaded guilty to a juvenile charge of reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon.  However, if he follows strict co