Teen stabbed at Oklahoma City high school
Boy stabbed at Oklahoma City high school
By Augie Frost and Wendy K. Kleinman
Published: March 13, 2008
A 15-year-old Capitol Hill High School student is in the hospital today recovering from several stab wounds in what appears to be a gang-related fight, officials said.
The high school was immediately locked down after the violent attack, officials said.
Melchor Pena Jr., 15, is at OU Medical Center and is expected to survive, police Capt. Steve McCool said.
Hector Escalante, 15, was arrested on a felony assault with a deadly weapon complaint by an on-campus police officer shortly after the incident, McCool said.
The fight broke out between the two about 10:30 a.m. in a hallway. It appeared at first that Pena had been jumped by several gang members.
After questioning witnesses, it was determined Pena and Escalante were fighting each other and a crowd circled around them, so it appeared there was more than one person involved in the fight.
The stabbing happened in the main building of the high school's campus, said Kathleen Kennedy, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma City School District. There are metal detectors at that building's front entrance, which Kennedy said she believes are used every morning.
However, that entrance is not the only way into the building.
"During passing time is the only time that there's a back door that's opened for the students to pass to and from the other four buildings," Kennedy said.
Thursday, students had a modified lunch, meaning they were allowed to go to lunch in small groups and for shorter periods of time. The school will operate under lockdown again Friday.
She said the lockdown is strictly a precaution and that she is not aware of any messages that would give reason for specific concern about more violence. Additional police will be on campus Friday as well, Kennedy said.
Police were at the school Thursday investigating.
"After the police get back with us and give us the report from the investigation, the administration will look to see if there's anything we need to proceed with further to make sure our students' safety is being addressed. Definitely we'll work with police if we need to do so," Kennedy said.
McCool would not say if gangs or violence are widespread at the school or more problematic than in other city schools.
"Any time you have gang members at any school, you have a problem," he said.
