Teen arrested after stabbing 24 at Pennsylvania high school

USPA News - A teenage boy armed with two knives went on a stabbing spree at a Pennsylvania high school on Wednesday morning, injuring more than 20 people in one of the worst such incidents in the United States in recent years, authorities said. The 16-year-old student, identified in court documents as Alex Hribal, attacked 23 students and an adult security guard at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville - about 20 miles (32.9 kilometers) from Pittsburgh on early Wednesday.

He was placed under arrest by an on-site officer before authorities arrived at the scene. The incident was first called in by a Franklin Regional High School resource officer on the Murrysville Police radio at 7:13 a.m. local time. All Murrysville units were dispatched to respond to the scene, where authorities found multiple victims lying in the grassy area outside of the building. Police Chief Thomas Seefield said that once he entered the building, he was met in the first floor hallway by the male security guard who suffered a stab wound to his stomach. Nearby, the school resource officer had the suspect in custody after Hribal was tackled by a school principle. Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and attended to those injured. Four of the 23 students were seriously wounded and in critical condition. "We are praying and hoping the best of the victims," Seefield said. The suspect himself was also treated for injuries to his hand. Eight of the victims were taken to Forbes Regional Hospital, where Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mark Rubino said there was a pattern in the victims` wounds. "Most of them were to the right lower abdomen and the right flank and that created some of the criticality of their wounds," he explained. Franklin Regional School District Superintendant Dr. Gennaro Piriano said the school community will continue to work in cooperation with local law enforcement in the coming days. "The actions and response of our staff, students, and law enforcement officers saved many lives," Piriano said. The motive for Wednesday`s stabbing spree was not immediately known. Franklin Regional High School will remain closed for the next several days as authorities continue to investigate. Elementary and middle schools in the district are expected to reopen on Thursday.