13-year-old accused of stabbing fellow student at Monhagen Middle School

MIDDLETOWN, New York (WABC) — A middle school in Orange County was locked down after police say a 13-year-old student stabbed another 13-year-old multiple times.

It happened Wednesday morning at Monhagen Middle School on County Route 78.

Police said officers discovered the victim suffering from multiple stab wounds. That student was transported to Garnet Health Medical Center and subsequently transported to Westchester Medical Center for medical treatment.

The victim is said to be stable.

The defendant was charged and is being prosecuted by the Orange County Attorney’s Office.

Students say that a fight took place in front of a large gathering of kids in the eighth-grade wing.

“I saw a student walking like this (holding side), I assume that’s the one that got stabbed,” said Jaiden Mojica, a student. “I came back from breakfast over to the eighth-grade wing where I saw a big crowd. The fight had just finished and then the kid was walking from there this way. So I assume he was going to the nurse.”

“What happened today is not OK,” said Amy Creeden, Middletown Schools Superintendent. “It is very concerning, it is upsetting, My heart hurts. Our young people and our school community need us. Today is a very difficult day.”

The school district said that they completed a “full physical grid check” of the entire Monhagen Middle School Campus. They added that the situation was isolated to one area of the building.

An early release for all of the middle school students started at 9:45 a.m. It was unclear if school would resume as normal on Thursday.

The school district added,

“We appreciate your support and understanding in this difficult time. We will continue to update our community utilizing the website and our school Facebook account.

Maple Hill Elementary School is operating on a normal schedule today. They will remain on a lockout until further notice. In an abundance of caution, there is an increased police presence at and around our campuses today.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the young people who were injured and affected in today’s incident and our entire Monhagen Middle School community.”

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