Five injured in suspected stabbing at Washington high school

At least five people were injured on Thursday, April 30, in a suspected stabbing incident at a high school in Tacoma, Washington, authorities said.

The incident occurred at Henry Foss High School shortly after 1:30 p.m. local time, according to Tacoma Police Department spokesperson Shelbie Boyd, quoted by US media.

Police responded to reports of a possible stabbing or altercation at the school and found four students and a campus security officer injured. Boyd said all five victims, along with the suspect, had suffered stab or cut wounds.

The suspect, identified as a student, was detained at the scene, Boyd confirmed.

All five victims and the suspect were transported to several area hospitals, though their conditions were initially unknown. Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Chelsea Shepherd later said in an email that four of the patients were in critical condition, while one sustained minor injuries.

She added that the suspect was taken into police custody and evaluated at the scene by firefighters before being transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

All six individuals were later reported to be in stable condition, according to Shepherd.

The suspect, a juvenile, has since been charged with five counts of first-degree assault, Boyd said. The circumstances leading up to the incident remain unclear.

Tacoma police detectives and forensic officers were at the scene conducting an investigation. The school was placed on lockdown, and authorities arranged for parents to reunite with their children in the school’s parking lot.

Tacoma is located approximately 30 miles south of Seattle.

By Tamilla Hasanova