A fight between two students at Maryvale High School on Tuesday morning ended in tragedy when Michael Montoya was fatally stabbed, Phoenix police officials confirmed. Another student involved in the altercation was injured and is currently in custody.
According to Chief Matthew Giordano of the Phoenix Police Department, a school safety officer quickly detained one of the students involved. Cmdr. David Saflar said the suspect is in police custody and that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Police responded to a report of a stabbing at the school around 11 a.m., according to a department statement on social media. Officers learned that the incident involved a fight between two male students, both of whom were transported to a local hospital. Michael Montoya was pronounced dead, while the other student is expected to survive.
The circumstances leading to the fight remain under investigation. Officials have not released the suspect’s name or age, but preliminary reports suggest the confrontation stemmed from a dispute over a firearm. Michael allegedly obtained a gun from a fellow student, identified only as Chris, as part of an agreement. Chris reportedly became angry over the situation, and the altercation escalated, culminating in the stabbing.
At a news conference, Mayor Kate Gallego extended her condolences to those affected, emphasizing that schools should be safe spaces for students. “Like every other parent,” she said, “tomorrow, it will be a hard moment to drop a kid off at school, and to the parents out there, know that we are working as hard as we can to make sure that schools are as safe as possible.”
Superintendent Thea Andrade of the Phoenix Union High School District, which includes Maryvale High School, said the school will operate on a modified schedule Wednesday to provide emotional support and counseling for students.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident and urge anyone with information to contact the Phoenix Police Department.
