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Six people were injured in a stabbing at Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington, on Thursday afternoon, according to multiple reports. Police detained a student suspect who was also injured, and authorities said all victims were in stable condition by Friday.

The incident unfolded at approximately 1:35 p.m. local time, when Tacoma Police responded to reports of an active assault, according to the Tacoma Fire Department and police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd. Four students and an adult security guard were transported to hospitals, along with the suspect, who sustained minor injuries.

Coverage comparison

Reports from BBC, The Guardian, TASS, and The Hindu broadly align on the key facts: a stabbing occurred at Foss High School, the suspect was a student, and multiple people were injured. However, the number of injured varied slightly across reports—BBC and The Guardian reported six people injured, while TASS cited at least five wounded. The discrepancy appears to be due to differing counts of the injured, with one source initially reporting five and another including the suspect in the official tally.

The Guardian described the event as a "mass stabbing" and reported that the altercation stemmed from a fight over a vaping device battery, a detail not mentioned by other outlets. TASS and The Hindu remained neutral, with TASS reporting that four of the five admitted were in critical condition initially, while BBC and The Guardian noted that all patients were later stable.

Key claims

  • Six people injured: Tacoma Fire Department confirmed that six patients were transported to hospitals—five students and an adult security guard—along with the suspect, who was also treated. (Reported by BBC and The Guardian)
  • Suspect detained: The suspect, a student at Foss High School, was booked on five counts of first-degree assault, according to Tacoma Police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd. (Reported by BBC and The Guardian)
  • School response: The school was placed on lockdown and evacuated after the incident. Foss High School remained closed on Friday and will reopen on Monday with counselors on site. (Reported by BBC and The Guardian)
  • Cause: Police said the incident arose after "some type of an altercation." A single report, from The Guardian, cited a parent saying the fight was over a vaping device battery—a claim not corroborated by other outlets.
  • Victim conditions: Initially, four students were reported in critical condition, but authorities later said all patients were stable as of 4 p.m. local time. (Reported by multiple sources)

Perspectives

Local authorities emphasized the quick response and the ongoing investigation. Police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd said officers were able to "locate the individual" and secure the scene "pretty quickly," while urging witnesses to share video footage.

The school district expressed gratitude for the staff's "quick, calm action," and the school announced support services for students and staff upon reopening.

Some parents and students expressed shock and frustration. One parent told KIRO news radio, "There's going to be potential loss of life just for a vape battery? That seems so idiotic." A student described the scene to Fox 13: "It was just crazy. It was so bad. There was blood everywhere."

Historical context: In 2007, a student was shot and killed in a hallway at Foss High School, a fact noted by BBC in its report.

As of Friday, the suspect's identity and motive had not been publicly released, and details about the weapon used remained unclear. The investigation is ongoing.