In a disturbing development, two adolescent boys are facing serious charges following last week’s alarming events at Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Around 7:30 p.m. last Thursday, law enforcement arrived on the school premises. They discovered a 17-year-old boy suffering from non-lethal stab injuries on his lower back. The situation escalated when a large brawl ensued shortly after the initial stabbing incident.
Within minutes, responding officers detected gunfire and discovered a 16-year-old boy with a firearm in a neighboring yard. The young man was swiftly apprehended. Chief Brian O’Hara disclosed that officers recovered a Glock handgun equipped with a 50-round drum magazine from the scene.
During the commotion, another teenager sustained injuries and was rushed to a local hospital. The extent of these injuries was considered potentially life-threatening.
According to eyewitness accounts, the initial stabbing incident took place during a Somali Culture night event. The victim was reportedly stabbed in the lower back. Washburn’s Principal, Emily Palmer, clarified in a written note shared on Friday night that none of the students implicated in the incident attend Washburn.
As law enforcement was handling the ensuing melee, they reported seeing what appeared to be the flash of a firearm muzzle outside the school building.
The 16-year-old boy, found with a firearm, is now charged with underage weapon possession, while the 17-year-old boy is facing second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon charges. The latter is believed to be the individual responsible for the stabbing. While he claimed self-defense, video evidence shared on social media seemed to show him attacking the victim from behind.
On Friday morning, Minneapolis Public Schools issued a statement expressing their deep dismay over the violence marring what had started as a joyous event. They pledged their full cooperation with law enforcement during the ongoing investigation.