San Mateo

Police Investigate Stabbing at San Mateo High School

One student suffered minor injuries, police said

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An on-campus stabbing interrupted what was supposed to be the first day of summer school at San Mateo High School Friday.

“I’m scared,” said Michelle Weaver. “First of all, first day of summer school we’re not familiar with this school.”

The parent was there to pick up her daughter after learning that a student had been stabbed on campus.

“I'm going to contact and see if we can go online,” she said. “I’d rather my daughter take the class online.”

Police were called to the school after a student was stabbed during an on campus fight between a small group of students.  

“We went on lockdown but we all had to go back to our classes and the teachers tried to escort everyone out because we were all by the office waiting to get our classes,” said a student.

“Out officers arrived on scene, worked with the school staff. We were quickly able to determine who was involved. They isolated those students, they were able to identify there was one student who suffered a very minor injury as a result of the altercation, medical aid was provided and that student is OK,” said Captain Matt Lethin of the San Mateo Police Department.

Police were not able to determine exactly who had the knife or what the fight was about.

“At this point we have all parties that were involved, we have them identified and we have them contained and now we’re in an investigative state,” said Lethin.

But as it all unfolded, including a campus lockdown, parents began getting texts from their kids.

“She said that there was a stabbing and they’re still trying to figure out who got who but they’re on the football field now,” said Liliana Olson of San Mateo.

Some said they wanted clear information sooner about what was going on. The district sent a message to families after noon saying in part, “The school was under a secure campus order until about 12:10 p.m. … students were safe during this time, and there were no other injuries or threats to the general student population."

“At all at least someone could have said hey the kids are fine it's just isolated,” said Justin Goodwin of San Mateo.

A spokesperson for the district said they are now re-examining security to determine what additional steps they may need to take to keep students safe.

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