JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One day after the stabbing of a middle school student, who was taken to the hospital as a result, the 14-year-old suspect has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, according the student’s arrest report.
The incident, which happened on a school bus headed to Matthew Gilbert Middle School around 9 a.m. on Thursday, took place on the victim’s second day at her new school, she told police.
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The victim, whose condition remains unknown at this time, added that she had no prior contact or disagreements with the teen who stabbed her.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Matthew Gilbert Middle student taken to hospital after being stabbed by another student on school bus: police | Matthew Gilbert Middle School community shocked by school bus violence that led to stabbing of student
According to DCPS, initial reports indicate a student riding Bus 268 en route to Matthew Gilbert Middle School was “injured by another student with a knife,” following an altercation.
Police reports have officers arriving at the scene on Division Street around 9 a.m. before making contact with both the suspect and the victim.
News4JAX called the suspect’s mother after obtaining the arrest report Friday afternoon, but she did not want to talk.
Following the incident, Duval County Public Schools shared this message with Matthew Gilbert Middle School families:
Hello, Matthew Gilbert families. This is Duval County Public Schools calling. First and foremost, all students and staff at Matthew Gilbert Middle School are safe. We have been made aware of a serious incident that occurred on Bus 268 involving a physical altercation between two students. During the incident, one student was injured with a knife. The injured student was transported for medical care, and the other student is now in the custody of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The families of the students directly involved have been notified. In addition, school staff is contacting the families of all students who were on the bus so they are aware of what occurred.
This incident did not take place on campus, and there is no threat to the school. Law enforcement continues to investigate, and details remain limited at this time. If there are any updates that impact the broader school community, we will share them promptly.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to this message.
Duval County Public Schools
Some students, like eighth graders Andre Alston and Makhai Noble, shared their reactions to the stabbing with News4JAX. We ensured that the kids we spoke with called their parents and gave permission to share their reactions, which ranged from concerned to surprised.
Alston said, “Whenever I heard it, I was like, oh my God, and everybody was talking about it all day. It just shocked me.”
Noble shared that his cousin told him he was traumatized by the incident.
Makhai added, “Yeah. It is a lot of fights that happen at the school, just school itself need to get better.”
A mom named Charisse, who says her son used to take the bus when he first started going to Matthew Gilbert Middle School; however, now she sends him to school in an Uber and picks him up in the afternoons.
“It was always something,” Charisse said. “It was always some type of altercation, so I stopped him from just catching the bus period and Uber him to school.”
She said the monthly bill for those Ubers can reach $280, but she does it for her child’s safety. She wasn’t surprised when she heard about the stabbing.
“This is my son’s last year here,” she shared. “I’m not going to say the teachers or anything are bad. It’s just that it’s not enough people out here. All these kids out here now, it’s not enough eyes out here to protect our babies. And that’s what scares me. ”