Posted on 11/24/2004 8:28:03 AM PST by RepCath
BREAKING NEWS The Associated Press Updated: 11:17 a.m. ET Nov. 24, 2004VALPARAISO, Ind. - A Valparaiso High School student used a knife to cut eight students at the start of school on Wednesday, police said. None of the injuries was believed to be life-threatening.
The student who committed the attack was in custody and the school about 20 miles southeast of Gary had been placed on lockdown, Valparaiso police spokesman Michael Grennes said.
"At this time, we've got a number of students who have been injured," Grennes told The Times of Munster. "They've all been transported to the hospital and all the parents have been notified."
Jeni Bell, a spokeswoman for Porter hospital in Valparaiso, said the students suffered severe cuts and one suffered a hip injury.
© 2004 The Associated Press.
I'm still a stammering, shaky mess right now, but greatly improved over what I felt earlier. Strange how the mind works. I found myself downstairs just know frantically making the chicken noodle soup I had planned to feed my always starving kid for lunch when he got home today.
I continue in constant prayer for the victims and their families. I had a scare that knocked my socks off. I can truly imagine how they feel right now.
pattyjo
These things just don't happen. There must be a reason for this sort of violence.
It was, if it LOOKED like an assault knife.
You forgot the part about the SUV. The slasher undoubtedly drove an SUV to school today.
Patty,
What paper are you referring to? I'm from Valpo and just heard the news. I'm glad that your kids are OK.
My kids will be going to Chesterton HS when they are old enough. This type of thing is a real shocker for that area. Especially after the suicide that happened recently to a Chesterton HS student.
I hope those teachers have good insurance, because the perp is going to sue them for hurting him.
Oh my - thank goodness your son is alright. I can't imagine how I would feel hearing about that!
Prayers to you .. and the kids involved.
Yeah, that's standard PC MO. I wondered if you knew from the grapevine.
I went to the Valparaiso Times online, I think they call it the NW Indiana times. Its on the front online page.
The addy: htp://www.thetimesonline.com.
I know how you feel. There was an incident not long ago when another kid snuck a gun into school. These are horrible and scary times.
pattyjo
SUV kills eight on Highway 53.
His hero is, no doubt, O.J. Simpson.
Pattyjo, I'm so glad your son is alright. I'd be a nervous wreck as well! Your son must be feeling some anxiety too. He'll be in my prayers!
In all seriousness, prayers for the injured kids.
Re your post 31, you may find this difficult to believe but already (as of 2000, when I was last there) in the U.K. youngsters under the age of 15 or 16 cannot buy razor blades in stores.
Pj, I thank God also that your son is safe. I'm sorry that I didn't say so until now. I didn't see your posts when I posted--I just reacted to the news of the article. I pray for you and your son that the student body heals as quickly as possible from this MADDENING attack. Valpo High is an awesome school, made up of bright, kind, young gentlemen and ladies. I'm confident that they're capably strong and well-grounded to be able to bounce back. Thinking of you.
My son David, a student at the school, just got home. He heard that the attacking kid had a machete and a couple of pocket knives. He didn't seem to be targeting specific kids, just slashing whoever got in his way. One of the injured kids, my large son describes as a smallish boy, tried to stop the kid iniatially, and was slashed from the wrist to the elbow. The attacking kids was then walking up and down the hall, and anyone who passed him was slashed at. David, my son, says that the attacker was mumbling and yelling in a language other than English. David thinks it was jibberish, not a real language. This is what David heard, not confirmed by first hand sources.
The teacher in my son's class reaized something bad was happening, and locked the class room door.
The assistant principle and another one or two teachers tackled the kid, and a female assistant teacher kicked the knives out of reach of the kid. Apparently they had quite a time getting the kid under control.
I am more shaken by this whole thing than my son is. He told me that if he had been in the room, which was just down the hall from him, he would have helped stop the did. I admire his instincts. He won't run from a fight. Just glad he didn't have the opportunity to play hero this time.
All the injured were 14 and 15 years old, 7 boys and one girl.
pattyjo
I am somehow, just not surprised.
Forgive my many typos, I am still a wreck.
pattyjo
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