Four Students Arrested After Stabbing and Secondary Incident at Watsonville High School
WATSONVILLE, CA — An investigation is underway at Watsonville High School following a stabbing incident that occurred shortly before 10:04 a.m. on Thursday October 23rd. Watsonville Police Department officers, along with personnel from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, responded to reports of a stabbing at the school campus.
A Watsonville Police Sergeant arrived on the scene within two minutes of the initial report and located school staff already restraining a 16-year-old male suspect. The suspect was subsequently detained and taken into custody.
Authorities confirmed that two individuals sustained stab wounds: a 14-year-old student and a school staff member. First responders, including police officers and Watsonville Firefighters, along with school personnel, provided aid to the victims until ambulances arrived.
As a precaution, Watsonville High School and nearby Linscott Elementary School were placed under lockdown. The lockdown at Linscott Elementary was lifted shortly before 10:30 a.m. The high school remained in lockdown for a longer duration to allow for the police investigation but was lifted shortly after noon.
Police are also investigating a secondary incident that occurred immediately following the stabbing. Investigators state that a second student suspect fled the initial scene, met with two other students, and collectively attacked a separate 14-year-old student.
In total, four students from Watsonville High School were arrested in connection with the incidents. All four suspects were booked into Juvenile Hall.
