Student Fatally Stabbed Inside Harding High School
Saint Paul police have confirmed that a 15-year-old boy was fatally stabbed Friday morning inside of Harding High School. Police were called to the school at 11:46 a.m. where they located school staff providing first aid to a juvenile male who was suffering from apparent stab wounds.
Paramedics arrived and transported the juvenile to Regions Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officers say a possible suspect was located at the school and was taken into custody. The suspect is also a student at the school, authorities confirmed.
The victim was identified by the county medical examiner as Devin Scott, 15, of Saint Paul.
Police say this is the first homicide of the year in Saint Paul.
Classes and activities at the school were canceled through Monday, according to a statement from Harding High School principal Be Vang.
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The stabbing is the latest in a series of serious incidents occurring in or near Saint Paul schools just this year. On January 18, a shooting at a recreation center across from Central High School left a teenager in critical condition. The high school was placed into “lockout” procedure and canceled classes the next day. On January 20, shots fired near the Washington Technology Magnet School left a teacher with a graze wound and put the school into lockdown and cancelled all evening activities.
After the stabbing at Harding, Saint Paul Public Schools superintendent Joe Gothard said that “our focus is on supporting the Harding High School community and those who were directly impacted by this horrible incident, especially the family of the victim.”
“Our young people need us more than ever. Please continue to support each other as we all grieve this tragedy and work together on healing and moving forward,” Gothard said in the written statement.
In a previous statement, Gothard said that two guns have been found in Saint Paul schools so far this year.
Previously, the Saint Paul School Board voted to remove Saint Paul police school resource officers in June of 2020, shortly after George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officers. At the time, the district’s high school principals unanimously opposed the idea. Since then, the school district has hired school and “community support liaisons,” tasked with school safety.
In a tweet, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said, “As the dad of a St. Paul student, I’m heartbroken for the Harding High School community and the family of a student who lost their life today. We have offered our full support and have been assured that the area is now secure.”
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Office is expected to make a charging decision in the next few days, at which time the suspect’s name and details about the incident may become public.
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