Police: Boy, 14, accused of stabbing fellow student several times at Morgantown HS

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A 14-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday morning at Morgantown High School after police said he stabbed another student during an altercation.

According to the Morgantown Police Department, officers were called to the school just after 7 a.m. for the report of a fight between students.

When officers arrived, they found a 17-year-old boy with multiple stab wounds to the arms and chest.

Detectives said witnesses told them the 17-year-old attacked the 14-year-old in the hallway of the school. Witnesses said the 14-year-old then stabbed the 17-year-old multiple times.

"The 14-year-old pulled out a folding pocket knife and retaliated against the 17-year-old,” Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston said.

Police said a well-respected student athlete helped break up the fight.

“That student should be commended for calming the 14-year-old down and having him turn himself into the office,” Preston said.

The 17-year-old was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital for treatment. He received 20 stitches in his arm and torso, officials said. His name hasn’t been released.

The 14-year-old was taken into police custody. According to police, he was charged with having a weapon on school grounds and unlawful assault. He was released to his parents.

Police said their unsure if the 17-year-old will be charged. At this time, he hasn’t been.

"The two individuals knew each other. This wasn't the first time they encountered each other or had issues with each other,” Preston said.

The 14-year-old's mother told WBOY News 12 that the incident was the result of months of bullying on the bus and in school.

According to the boy’s mother, the 17-year-old had allegedly been bullying her son since the beginning of the school year, saying he owed him money and threatening his family’s pets.

"We can't say whether it was chronic bullying or not but there were several instances that lead up to the confrontation," Preston said.

The mother told WBOY News 12 that her son asked his bus driver to intervene when the alleged bullying began, but nothing was done. She also said her son was against getting school officials involved, something that she now regrets.

“He’s a good kid,” the 14-year-old’s mother told WBOY News 12.

Morgantown High School Principal Robert DeSantis said the school was quickly secured and all classes were conducted according to their normal schedule.

However, Morgantown High School 10th-grader Kenleigh Libdamood said she wanted to leave school after the incident.

“I was like, ‘Can you come get me? I don’t feel safe,’” Libdamood said. “Everyone was crowding in the office trying to see (the 17-year-old’s) arm.”

WPXI