SNOHOMISH — A Snohomish High School freshman and her friend were stabbed Monday at school and police are investigating another student for two counts of attempted murder.
One girl was listed in critical condition Monday after undergoing six hours of surgery, Snohomish Police Chief John Turne
r said. She suffered multiple stab wounds. A second girl, also a freshman, was treated for knife wounds and released from the hospital Monday afternoon.
“We have zero motive at this time,” Turner said.
Investigators don’t believe the victims knew the suspect, a 15-year-old girl. She is a sophomore at the school.
“It’s still early on in the investigation and there are lots of different stories and speculation out on the Internet,” Turner said. “We’re in the process of pulling it all together.”
None of the girls’ names was officially released, although they were shared on social media and turned up in some news reports.
The attack happened about 7:25 a.m. inside a bathroom in the auxiliary gym. The victims were putting on make-up, getting ready for their first class.
Paramedics rushed to the school and transported both girls to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.
Detectives sealed off the area to collect evidence and take photographs. A knife was recovered at the scene, Turner said.
The suspect was booked into the Denney Juvenile Justice Center in Everett. She is expected to make a court appearance today. Prosecutors eventually could ask for the case to be handled in adult court.
News of the incident quickly spread on Facebook and through text messages from students. The school was on lockdown for about 90 minutes before classes resumed a normal schedule.
Sheriff John Lovick was locked down with students. He was scheduled to speak Monday morning to a government class. He went ahead with the talk.
Shelby Prokop, 19, said her friend called her in a panic. Prokop’s younger brother was in school.
“My heart was just pounding,” she said.
She quickly called her brother, 16. She picked him up from school early.
Joe Boedry, a junior, and other classmates watched the ambulances until the teacher closed the classroom windows, he said. The teacher turned the lights out and gave them permission to text their parents. Many of them did.
Junior Anna Pearson was in lockdown in Mandarin class when everyone’s phones started going off with calls and texts from worried parents, she said.
At first, everyone thought it was a drill, she said. They all got quiet when they realized there had been a stabbing.
“We just kind of didn’t believe it, because that’s never happened here,” she said.
Turner said they haven’t had any reports of violence or threats in recent weeks. Students on Friday celebrated homecoming with the traditional student parade, dance and football game.
This school “is part of our community. It’s the hub of this community. We don’t think things like this should happen here,” Turner said.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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