|
Students and faculty at East Side Cadet Academy—an alternative high school in Willow Glen that is part of the East Side Union High School District—are trying to recover from an unexpected act of violence that interrupted class, landing one student in the hospital and another in jail.
According to San Jose Police Department spokeswoman Gina Teeporten, on Jan. 5 at 12:50 p.m., a 17-year-old, male student stabbed a 16-year-old, male student multiple times in a class, while a teacher and approximately 20 students were in the room. Following the stabbing, the 17-year-old student immediately ran to the principal's office and turned himself in. The principal then called the police, Teeporten said.
The 16-year-old student sustained minor injuries, and was taken to a nearby hospital. The other student was booked into juvenile hall for assault with a deadly weapon. He was cooperative throughout the arrest, Teeporten said. He is alleged to have gang connections, Teeporten said, but she could not confirm that the victim also has ties to an organized crime.
According to Ric Abeyta, the district's chief officer of student services, there were no prior indicators of overt gang activity at the school.
"I'm not naive enough to say there are no gang issues," Abeyta said. "But the students get a lot of supervision."
He did acknowledge, however, that gang colors appeared to be involved in the incident.
The East Side Cadet Academy is a community day school, located at the 2315 Canoas Garden Ave. The school provides a structured environment for students who have had disciplinary or attendance problems at other schools. National Guard representatives work with students and the school offers leadership classes where gang issues are often discussed, Abeyta added.
Abeyta said he met with faculty on the day of the stabbing, and the faculty met with students to discuss the incident and dispel rumors and speculations. The students' parents have also been informed, he said. Grief counselors also met with students on Jan. 6, and the district is considering additional security. According to Abeyta, the police department has stepped up patrols around the school.
But Abeyta said he did not foresee further acts of violence occurring in the near future.
"There is no reason for students to be concerned about their safety," he said.
And he added that school officials were taking the situation seriously.
"The district is concerned about all our students," he said. "We are doing all we can to ensure their safety."
|
