A tragic classroom fight turned deadly at Maryvale High School in Phoenix on Tuesday, August 19, when a 16-year-old student was fatally stabbed during an altercation, authorities confirmed.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, officers and fire crews responded to the school just before 11 a.m. after reports of a violent incident. Investigators say Michael Montoya II, 16, was attacked in class by another male student armed with a folding pocketknife believed to have been brought onto campus.
After the stabbing, the suspect — whose name has not been released — allegedly ran from the classroom and dropped the weapon before school security officers spotted him and took him into custody.
Both students were rushed to a nearby hospital, but Michael did not survive his injuries. The other teen sustained non-life-threatening wounds, according to police.
Following the attack, the school went into lockdown while authorities secured the campus. Officials confirmed that all other students and staff were safe.
State Superintendent Tom Horne called the incident “a terrible tragedy,” stressing that schools “must be safe places.” Phoenix City Councilwoman Betty Guardado echoed that sentiment, saying she was “heartbroken and deeply disturbed” by the violence. “Classrooms should be a safe place for all students,” she said, promising to work with local leaders and law enforcement to address safety concerns.
Maryvale High School, which has nearly 2,850 students, is already equipped with metal detectors and on-site security officers, but the measures were not enough to prevent this devastating incident. Councilwoman Anna Hernandez criticized the system, saying these tools “created the appearance of security” but failed to address the root causes. She called for funding to be shifted toward mental health resources, peer support, and preventative care.
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are asking anyone with information or video evidence to contact Phoenix police through Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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