A violent confrontation between students at Watsonville High School on Thursday morning left a student and a staff member injured, prompting a campus-wide shelter-in-place order, authorities said.
According to the Watsonville Police Department, the incident occurred around 10 a.m. on school grounds. Police said the stabbing stemmed from an altercation between two students. During the confrontation, one student was stabbed, and a staff member who attempted to intervene was also injured.
Both victims were treated for their injuries and are expected to recover, police confirmed. The nature and extent of the staff member’s injuries have not yet been released.
School staff quickly detained the 16-year-old student suspect before officers arrived and took him into custody without further incident.
In a statement, Watsonville police said,
“The school will remain under a shelter-in-place order until we complete our investigation. The Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District will provide additional updates to parents and staff.”
Officers and school administrators remained on scene late Thursday morning as detectives gathered evidence and interviewed witnesses.
The Pajaro Valley Joint Unified School District assured parents that student safety remains the top priority and that support services will be available for anyone affected by the incident.
While police have not released the suspect’s name due to his age, they confirmed there is no ongoing threat to students or staff.
The shelter-in-place order was expected to be lifted once the area was secured and the investigation concluded.
This marks the latest in a series of campus safety incidents across California, underscoring the ongoing challenges schools face in maintaining safe learning environments.
