A Proviso West student was injured in a knife attack involving other students Tuesday in an incident that sent multiple schools into lockdown status, NBC Chicago’s Vi Nguyen reports.
A Proviso West student was injured in a knife attack involving other students Tuesday in an incident that sent multiple schools into lockdown status, officials said.
A spokesperson for the village of Hillside confirmed to NBC Chicago that one student was attacked by another student with a knife just after 10 a.m. Tuesday in a stairwell near the school's parking lot.
Both Proviso West High School and Hillside Elementary School were placed on lockdown following the incident.
The injured student was transported by first responders to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, the spokesperson and district said. The village said the injured student suffered cuts to his arm.
The student allegedly involved in the stabbing fled the scene and remained at-large for hours before eventually being taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.
NBC 5 learned the two teens have a history of not getting along.
"Swift action was taken by the school administration, local law enforcement and emergency medical teams, who arrived promptly at the scene. The student was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment," Proviso West Principal Elizabeth Martinez said in a letter to families. "In response to the incident, classes were placed on a soft lockdown. We want to assure you that our school community is safe and secure. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We will continue to work to ensure a secure and supportive environment for everyone in our school community."
Local
Students left terrified after the frightening ordeal.
“I was in class we were on a soft lockdown and then a video go around with blood everywhere and it got around that someone got stabbed,” said Proviso West junior Mekhi Watters.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Chicago Catch-Up newsletter.
Some parents told NBC 5 on and off camera they had no idea there had been a stabbing at the school. They immediately rushed over after getting a phone call from their son or daughter during the lockdown.
“He sounded terrible, he sounded sad, scared,” said Proviso West parent Vanessa Bonds, whose son is a freshman at the school. “[He said] mom can you come get me there’s been a stabbing.”
“We don’t feel comfortable staying here,” said Proviso senior Jaden Godsey. “They had us on a soft lockdown for almost close to an hour and then after that everyone was just talking about it.”
Godsey was among several students who left school early Tuesday afternoon fearing for his own safety.
“I asked my mom if I could leave and she’s like, 'Yes safety, that’s my number one priority,'” said Godsey. “I don’t think anyone else should be here either.”
Bonds said she feels the situation could have been handled differently by the school.
“I feel that the metal detector is just not working and I feel that they need to have more security than what they have,” said Bonds. “As a parent I didn’t receive no type of information saying this had happened, no email, no phone calls or nothing.”
A village spokesperson said the victim has since been treated and released from the hospital and charges are pending against the teenage suspect.
Check back for more on this developing story.
