District confirms the man once attended Orangewood Elementary and entered through an unlocked interior lobby door.
PHOENIX — A 25-year-old man accused of posing as a doctor allegedly slipped into Orangewood Elementary School around midday Wednesday and sexually assaulted a 10-year-old student inside an empty classroom before running from campus, Phoenix police said.
Police identified the suspect as Abel Kai Gblah. He was arrested later Wednesday and booked on allegations that include sexual assault and kidnapping. The Washington Elementary School District said Friday the suspect once attended the campus and got inside through an unlocked interior lobby door while walking in with a tardy student. The case has set off a swift internal review of procedures as parents demanded answers and officers detailed what happened inside the north Phoenix school.
According to police, the encounter began about 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Orangewood Elementary on the 7500 block of North 19th Avenue. Investigators say a man entered campus and lured the student into an unoccupied classroom by claiming he needed to perform an exam. “At some point, the student was able to push the man away. He then ran from the scene before officers arrived,” Sgt. Rob Scherer said. Officers located a man matching the description a short time later and took him into custody. Detectives interviewed staff, reviewed camera footage and gathered physical evidence from the room as part of the ongoing investigation.
In a statement to families and staff, the school confirmed Friday that an internal review found the suspect is a former Orangewood student who attended from 2012 to 2015. Early reports suggested he may have “tailgated” in behind another person; further review concluded he entered through the interior lobby door, which was unlocked, and walked in with a tardy student. The district said a staff member has been placed on administrative leave while procedures are evaluated. Police say the girl is 10 years old. They allege the man impersonated a medical professional to gain the child’s trust before the assault, which took place over several minutes in a classroom off a main hallway. The child got away, alerted adults and was later seen by medical professionals.
Court records reviewed by local outlets show Gblah has a criminal history, including a 2021 conviction in a separate case. According to those records, he had dozens of probation violations and had been released from prison roughly 10 days before the school incident. Phoenix police have not publicly detailed the full list of counts in this case beyond sexual assault and kidnapping, and it remains unknown whether additional charges could be added after lab testing and interviews. Officials have not released information about any prior contacts between the suspect and the school since his time as a student, and investigators have not announced any other victims connected to the campus assault.
The Washington Elementary School District said it is reinforcing practices immediately: ensuring all visitors sign in, requiring visible staff ID badges, reviewing lobby security and retraining employees on interior protocols, including keeping classroom doors locked during the day. A district security team member will remain on campus through the end of the school year, leaders said, and the district is applying for a School Safety Grant to secure a school resource officer. At the district level, leadership and crisis teams are conducting a wider debrief and researching improved visitor management systems for all schools in the system.
Parents gathered outside the campus Thursday and Friday, some pulling their children from the school. One mother, Mylissa Hall, said she recognized the suspect’s mug shot and remembered him from her time at the school. “I went to school here, so I was hoping to have [my son] here until 8th grade,” Hall said. “But this incident caused me to feel that he’s not safe.” Another parent, Catina Island, kept her children home Friday, saying, “We bring them here thinking that they’re safe, and they weren’t safe yesterday.” Community counselors and district social services staff have been on campus to offer support to students and employees.
Police say the investigation remains active. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, collecting forensic evidence and working with county prosecutors on formal charging decisions. The district said additional safety training for all staff is scheduled during its next professional development day. Any further public update from the school and police could come early next week as interviews conclude and reports are filed. A preliminary court appearance for the suspect is expected after prosecutors finalize charges.
As of Saturday, the suspect remains jailed while the case is reviewed for prosecution, and the school’s internal security audit continues. The district said it will share more details with families when permissible under the ongoing criminal investigation.
Author note: Last updated November 22, 2025.