HAMPTON, Va. — Two students are recovering while a third was apprehended following a fight that involved a box cutter at Bethel High School in Hampton, school officials said Monday.
According to a message to families from Executive Principal Dr. Tanya Howard, the incident happened in one of the hallways between the second and third blocks when two students got into a fight, while a third one intervened.
During the altercation, one of the students, a 16-year-old boy, assaulted the other two with a small box cutter, authorities said.
“I don’t know exactly how many students saw, but I can imagine that was pretty traumatizing for kids that did see it," said Rachel Baez, a parent.
Howard said administrators, school security and the school resource officer immediately responded and apprehended the student with the box cutter.
The other two students were taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The Hampton Police Division said the two hospitalized students are both boys and are 17 and 18 years old.
Howard said it was an isolated incident and the school did not go into lockdown.
Hampton Police arrested and charged the 16-year-old suspect in connection to the stabbing. He's charged with two counts of unlawful wounding, one count of possession of a weapon on school property and one count of a concealed weapon.
Meanwhile, some parents said they are concerned about the way children handle conflict resolution.
"Kids don’t know how to talk, talk it out," one parent, who did not wish to be named, told 13News Now. “We’re losing too many of our young men with violence like that. I’m just thankful it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been.”
Others have outlying safety and security concerns.
Several parents question how a box cutter passed through the metal detectors if that is how the student suspect managed to have it inside the building.
"How was that not found? I understand a box cutter is small, but that still should have sent a metal detector off," Baez added.
A spokesperson for Hampton City Schools sent a statement to 13News Now outlining the division's approach to safety and security.
"The division began utilizing the weapons detection units daily in our high schools during the 2021-2022 school year, followed by our middle, PreK-8 schools, and gifted center (at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year) and elementary schools in the winter/spring of 2023," the statement read.
In a statement, School Board Chair Dr. Richard Mason said the school board and division have "an unwavering commitment to provide a safe and secure learning environment."
"The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and visitors are our top priorities, and we are dedicated to maintaining schools that foster growth, learning, and positive experiences," Mason wrote.
Below is the statement that Bethel High School's executive principal sent to parents and guardians of students:
"Good afternoon this is Dr. Tanya Howard, the executive principal of Bethel High School. In the interest of preventing the possible spread of misinformation, I feel it is important that I share factual information with you regarding a student situation that occurred at our school earlier today.
During class change between our second and third block, we had a student altercation in one of our hallways between two students in which another student intervened. During the altercation, one of the students assaulted the other two students with a small box cutter. Administration as well as our school security and the School Resource Officer responded immediately. As a precautionary measure, additional officers with the Hampton Police Division were contacted and responded to the school to provide support if needed. The student with the box cutter was immediately apprehended and the injured students were transported to a local hospital by members of the Hampton Division of Fire and Rescue with non-life-threatening injuries. The situation was an isolated incident and the student was apprehended quickly so the school did not need to go into a lockdown.
Hampton City Schools takes the safety of our students and staff very seriously and does not condone such behavior. Please know that the Hampton Police Division is thoroughly investigating and is taking appropriate actions. I am not at liberty to share individual student discipline, but please know that the student is not in school and will also be disciplined according to the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Please know that teaching and learning is continuing at Bethel today. I thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide a safe school environment for our young people and staff."