Fla. middle school student stabs 2 with scissors

He stabbed one in the neck and the other in the hand during art class, and both students received medical attention for minor injuries

December 17, 2013 02:01 AM

The Bradenton Herald

MANATEE, Fla. — A 13-year-old Lee Middle School student has been arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated battery after he stabbed two fellow students with scissors in art class, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred at 2:30 p.m. Monday, according to Randy Warren, a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

The suspect, for reasons not yet known, stabbed a fellow student in the neck, Warren said.

“We think the other student was stabbed in the hand when he tried to intervene,” Warren added.

Both students who were injured were receiving medical attention for minor injuries late Monday afternoon, Warren said.

After the stabbing, the suspect ran from the school and was chased down by the Lee school resource officer, Warren said.

“He was captured in the parking lot of the nearby shopping plaza and taken into custody,” Warren said.

Lee Middle School is located at 4000 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton, near Bayshore High School and IMG Academy.

Scot Boice, principal of Lee Middle School, said the victims will also receive counselling.

“As far as I know, both victims are seeing a counselor and were looked at by EMS,” Boice said. “They have been released to their parents. We will check on them again tomorrow.”

A counselor met with the class after the incident on Monday. Boice said he also sent a letter home with each student for the parents.

“This is unfortunate,” Boice said. “This is an extremely unusual situation. We have outstanding students here so we should focus on the positive, too.”

A counselor will be revisiting the art class this week, but Boice said there are no plans to eliminate scissors from the classroom.

“I’m sure the teacher was following all the rules for safety at the time,” Boice said. “If teachers are giving appropriate instructions, we will still have scissors.”

Boice said the district will continue to follow procedures regarding the student who was taken into custody for the incident. “I can’t give details on that,” Boice said.