The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) announced today (Thursday) that a 15-year-old student has been charged with malicious wounding after a stabbing that occurred yesterday at West Potomac High School.
According to FCPD:
On April 23, at 9:44 a.m., multiple students alerted a School Resource Officer (SRO) at West Potomac High School of a stabbing that had just occurred. The SRO quickly located a student suffering from stab wounds to the upper body, secured the knife used in the incident, and placed the 15-year-old suspect into custody. The victim was transported to a local hospital in life-threatening condition and later upgraded to stable.
Police said both students engaged in a physical altercation during which the suspect produced a knife and stabbed the victim.
Police said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the stabbing.
Detectives are asking anyone who has information about the stabbing to call our Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 2. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – (703)-246-4676, and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for a cash reward. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
Last night, members of the Fairfax County School Board issued a statement calling for new security measures in schools. The stabbing came in the same week as Fairfax County Public Schools started testing a new pilot for weapons detectors but Superintendent Michelle Reid said the detectors were not installed at West Potomac High School — they were installed at the school this morning.
Mateo Dunne, who represents the Mount Vernon District which includes West Potomac High School, said his three children attended and graduated from the school and the violence felt personal for him.
“Fairfax County Public Schools is widely considered one of the safest public school systems in the United States, but in light of the unacceptable act of violence at West Potomac HS, it is necessary to invest in new measures to ensure the safety and security of our students,” a letter from Dunne and two other School Board members said. “Today the undersigned School Board Members call on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to prioritize the following security measures…”
The letter, which was co-signed by School Board members Ilryong Moon and Ryan McElveen, called on the Board of Supervisors :
- Increase the number of School Resource Officers (SRO) to the nationally recommended ratio of 1:1000 students at every middle school and high school; and
- Ensure one or more SROs is present every day at every middle and high school; and
- Fully fund the Middle School After-School program, which was established to improve academic outcomes, develop healthy and successful youth, and combat gang violence.
The letter also called on Fairfax County Public Schools to make a series of security changes:
- Increase the number of security assistants to 1:750 students at every middle school and high school to ensure appropriate enforcement of student discipline and enable continuous monitoring of bathrooms, hallways, and other areas throughout the school day;
- Installing Open Gate weapons detection technology at every middle school and high school, so this technology, which is used by the Secret Service, can prevent incidents like the one today;
- Secure entry doors to prevent unauthorized access during the school day;
- Install video cameras inside and outside of every elementary, middle, and high school;
- Accelerate the construction of security vestibules at every school; and
- Conduct a security audit of every elementary, middle, and high school.
