Student Stabbed Near High School; Suspect Arrested

A 16-year-old Cleveland High School student was stabbed more than a dozen times just outside the campus Tuesday afternoon, apparently in retaliation for an altercation a day earlier, police said.

The boy, whose name was not released, was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center in critical condition, but police said late in the day that his injuries were not life-threatening.

One youth, also 16, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, Los Angeles Police Sgt. Gregory Renner said, and another male youth was being sought in connection with the attack, which occurred right after classes let out for the day at the campus in Reseda.

The Northridge teen was stabbed three times in the chest and abdomen, eight times in the back, and twice in the head and neck area about 3:15 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

The attack occurred on a road that connects the school with nearby Joaquin Miller Continuation School, witnesses said, and left the victim’s white T-shirt soaked with blood.

After the stabbing the teenager made his way back to the school office while his two assailants fled. When paramedics arrived, school officials were already giving him first aid.

Renner said the victim and his attackers, who knew one another, had been in a fight on Monday.

“I believe it was a physical altercation yesterday, and the suspects returned today, and this time they had knives,” he said. Renner said it was unclear what the dispute was about.

The victim’s 17-year-old brother was with him at the time of the attack, said Officer Eileen Stuart, and was beaten but not stabbed. He was also taken to the Northridge hospital, but his injuries were not believed to be serious.

There were “indications that the incident was provoked by a long-term dispute between the 16-year-old victim and at least one of his assailants,” Stuart said. “There is a possibility that this incident was further provoked by gang influence--however, investigation has not revealed any direct gang involvement so far.”

Deborah Leidner, an administrator for the Los Angeles Unified School District, said school officials as well as police were working to find out if the attack was gang-related.

A group of students called the Youth Relations Unit will work today to have students talk about the incident to avert any retaliatory violence, Leidner said.

Allan Weiner, an assistant principal, said the school would release a statement about the incident today.