A student at a Howard County, Maryland, high school has been hospitalized after a stabbing in the school parking lot Thursday morning, and police said they’ve made an arrest.
The altercation happened between two students outside Columbia’s Long Reach High School around 11 a.m. Thursday, police said. An 18-year-old man was injured in the stabbing and transported to Shock Trauma by ambulance. Police said he is in serious, but stable condition.
Howard County schools superintendent Michael Martirano said the school was immediately placed on lockdown to keep students and staff safe.
“This terrible event is extremely concerning, and I know that parents, guardians and families were extremely troubled as they received updates from the school and messages from their children,” Martirano wrote in a letter to the school community.
On Thursday evening, police arrested a 17-year-old boy who fled the scene in a car. Charges are pending.
The school resource officer who was on the scene helped the injured student within a minute of the altercation.
“I commend the school resource officer and Long Reach staff who quickly reacted to tend to the injured student and ensure the safety of all students and staff,” Martirano added. “Police also maintained an increased presence during dismissal.”
As of Thursday afternoon, the school has moved into a modified lockdown.