Pennsylvania Student Goes on Stabbing Spree at High School

Pennsylvania Student Goes on Stabbing Spree at High School

Pennsylvania Student Goes on Stabbing Spree at High SchoolAs security professionals, I’m sure we’re all tuned in to the Murrysville, Pa. stabbing rampage of a 16-year-old Alex Hribal, who brought two kitchen knives, 8 to 10 inches in length, to his high school. Using the knives as weapons, Hribal slashed and stabbed a total of 20 students and a security officer before assistant principal, Sam King, tackled Hribal, detaining him for authorities.

One of the many eerie parts of this tragic story is the fact that most students didn’t even realize they had been stabbed, leading outsiders to believe that hallways were crowded, allowing Hribal to execute his reign of terror within the walls of Franklin Regional Senior High School. This leads me to believe that Hribal actually took the time to analyze and think out when the perfect time would be to begin his stabbing spree.

Dr. Timothy VanFleet, chief of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, who treated six victims said, “They just felt pain and noticed they were bleeding. Almost all of them said they didn’t see anyone coming at them.”

I can’t even imagine being in a crowded hallway, felling a rush of pain, looking down and realizing that blood was gushing from my body. Reality at that moment would be surreal.

I feel like I'm seeing a pattern with these children who are shooting and stabbing people in their schools. It seems that most of them are shy and/or quiet and keep to themselves.

According to a sophomore student at Franklin Regional Senior High School, she said that Hribal was “really shy” and “always kept to himself…he didn’t talk to many people.”

As an ex-teacher, I really wonder what the adults (parents, teachers, counselors, librarians, custodians, etc.) are doing to ensure that they are tuned in to ALL students. It's so important for students to feel like they belong to a group...not at all saying that belonging to a group is the answer to school violence, but if a child has an outlet for whatever is going on in his or her life that he or she perceives is so terrible to kill or attempt to kill, then

a.) A group could be an outlet to disassociate from the student's reality or perceived reality, whether it's the a chess, movie or book club; being on a team; or some other type of group; and

b.) By belonging to a group, the child could divulge information that he or she intends to do harm, and hopefully, it could be intercepted in a healthy way.

We all know school violence is increasing and that something must be done to prevent it. We’re getting good at acting during and after violent acts at schools; however, we must become more proactive, preventing violence occurring in the first place.

Pictures from NY Daily News and The Australian.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Integration Imagination: The Future of Connected Operations

    Security teams that collaborate cross-functionally and apply imagination and creativity to envision and design their ideal integrated ecosystem will have the biggest upside to corporate security and operational benefits. Read Now

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Utah Valley University Shooting

    Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah Read Now

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.