Eight Students Slashed at Indiana High School

MSNBC ^ | 11-24-2004 | The Associated Press

[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.

[leprechaun9]

We must immediately talk to this students kindergarten teacher to see if he showed any violent tendencies while playing kickball?

[linn37]

My kids have school today.

[Joe Hadenuf]

David, my son, says that the attacker was mumbling and yelling in a language other than English.

Oh boy....

[pj_627]

Thanks for your kind words, and I am so grateful your daughter is okay.

Yes, Valparaiso High School is one of the best there is. I have been impressed with them for quite awhile. My older son graduated from there 4 years ago.

Prayers continue for victims and families. Now I want answers to the how and why of it all.

pattyjo

[jellybean]

I'm sure Michael Moore is already on his way to start filming, "Bowling for Valparaiso".

[pj_627]

Oh boy that's all we need here. My son David, a bright young man of 15, thinks mikey boy is a totally idiot.

pattyjo

[jellybean]

My son David, a bright young man of 15, thinks mikey boy is a totally idiot.

Your son certainly is a bright young man! Glad he's okay.

[JustAnotherSavage]

I'm glad you're son is okay. Must have scared you something awful! Let us know the details when you hear them all. Thanks.

[ARCADIA]

pattyjo,

Thanks for the report, I am glad to hear your son made it out safely. Hopefully, the victims will recover from this tragic attack.

[Jhensy]

Here's some actual DU discussion of this event. I'm not making this up:

It's the culture of violence that has been bred by the right wing. Violence is contagious and is pushed from the top down.

Yep. The cult of violence finds expression through self-indulgent ego-maniacal, right-wing values.

They are building the warrior class to be drafted.

The Youngest Republicans ...(since 9/11) a genie is out of the bottle, new permissions are given, the Two Minutes' Hate is practiced thirty times an hour, and a seething people are churning more and more. Only the community can stop the village idiot. Yet the right wing seeks the dissolution of common feeling for the perfection of individual wealth. Nobody is owed anything. There is no community. It's dog-eat-dog. Children raised in this vicious ethos will, of course, become more savage mirrors of the elders. Call them the Youngest Republicans. These are the rich, rich soils in which violence can grow. Hold on to your hat, friends, the long terrible ride is just starting.

The kid is Iraq-ready wind 'em up and turn 'em loose

Just the beginning. Bush's America I predicted more sickness and more violence under Little King George. People are not happy with this creep at the wheel.

[Indie]

the school about 20 miles southeast of Gary had been placed on lockdown

Hmmm.if lockdown means they wouldn't let me through to pick up my child, they'd have another "incident" on their hands. Welcome to the police state. Sieg...Heil!! Sieg...Heil!!

[Awestruck]

hugs to you and prayers as well...the world is a scary place.

[lupie]

I am in Indy. Our only one left in school has a whole day today. We always did.

I have an aunt and uncle who live just a few blocks from the school.

[nmh]

WHY?

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[WVNan]

Oh my! Prayers for steady nerves after this Patty. Thank God your son is safe. The kids are getting more and more out of control. When will the adults decide to clamp down? We had a gun incident in our little backwater town recently. And a 16 year old shot a deputy who came to his friend's house just to talk to them. The deputy looks as if he will recover, but it was bad.

[Miss Behave]

Pj, thank YOU, and (minorly) it's my God-daughter who attends Valpo High, not my daughter. I live on the North Shore of Chicago. I appreciate your kind words. Your son sounds like a fine young man--you must be very proud. Parenting shows.

I read your additional, updated information on the attack, and your son's teacher sure has her (his?) head screwed on straight, shown by her quick, on target, student focused, sensing-of-wrong, door locking. Kudos to her. Thinking of you, your son, and the others, Pj.

[Marie]

My son will start public school for the first time in five years on Monday. I can only imagine the horror, grief, rage and terror that you are feeling now. I know that you'll hold him extra tight this weekend.

I was told that, as a homeschooler, I was denying my kids exposure to "real life" lessons and that they would be unable to deal with normal, adult things when they were older. This is not "real life". This is not the reality that most adults face. This is a crime. This is terrorism and abuse.

I am so sorry that your family (and the hundreds of other families) have to deal with this. Prayers for the injured children and prayers for your family.

[erikm88]

and if a teacher, or the principal was armed???? hmmmm.. just a thought...

I thought the "Safe Schools Act" was to curb incidents such as this...

--erik