Judge agrees to send Alex Hribal to psychiatric hospital

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A judge has agreed to send Alex Hribal, the boy accused of going on a stabbing spree at Franklin Regional High School last April, to Southwood Psychiatric Hospital in Allegheny County.

Westmoreland Ciounty Judge Christopher Feliciani made the ruling to move the teen from the juvenile detention center after hearing testimony that the 16-year-old is suicidal and obsessed with the Columbine High shootings in 1999.

The 112-bed hospital in Upper St. Clair is the region's only behavioral health hospital dedicated to children and adolescents, according to its website.

Hribal quietly said "yes" when Channel 11's Rick Earle asked if he was sorry about what happened. He was wearing a white dress shirt and a red tie.

Hribal is charged with 21 counts of attempted homicide. Police said he used two knives to stab 20 students and a security guard before he was stopped.

The 16-year-old’s attorney said his client is mentally disturbed and he plans on proving that in court.

Hribal, who felt “alienated” and “ostracized,” planned on ending his life to cap off the rampage, a psychologist testified Friday morning.

“He was planning on this being the end of his life,” Dr. Bruce Chambers testified.

Chambers was called as a witness by attorney Patrick Thomassey, who is seeking to have Hribal transferred from the juvenile detention center in Hempfield. Thomassey contends the mental condition of Hribal, who suffers from schizophrenia and depression, is deteriorating.

A psychiatrist, Dr. Bruce Wright, was called to the stand and said Hribal does not need daily treatment.

“It's my opinion that he doesn't need to be in a psychiatric hospital,” Wright testified.

Dr. Christine Martone, who examined Hirbal during his incarceration, testified the teen is still suicidal. When he was apprehended and said he “was not done yet,” Hribal was referring to killing himself, said Martone, a forensic psychologist.

“In middle school, he wanted a girlfriend but realized girls would never be attracted to him,” she testified.

Martone said she saw no indication that bullying motivated the attacks, although Wright testified that Hribal was bullied by fellow students who called him “rat face,” and teased him for being “scrawny” and “weak” and for having “chicken legs.”

She told the judge that she recommends that Hirbal be transferred to Torrance State Hospital for 90 days.

Earle reported that Chambers told the judge that Hribal planned the attack for the anniversary of the Columbine attack.

Chambers said since Franklin Regional did not have school that day, Hribal instead decided to follow through with the attack on Eric Harris’ birthday.

Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 people and injured 24 others before killing themselves in an attack at a Colorado school on April 20, 1999.

Earle reported that the parents of 15 victims were inside the courtroom for the proceedings. Meanwhile, Earle said, Hribal was somber and didn’t show much emotion.

Hribal’s mother was also in court. Earle said she cried throughout the hearing.

A judge ruled Thursday that reporters will not be permitted to use social media to give the public real time updates.

Channel 11's news exchange partners at TribLIVE contributed to this report.