Nov. 22, 2024 By Bill Parry
Four teenage boys were taken into custody inside Long Island City High School in Astoria on Thursday afternoon after a brawl broke out and a 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the head, according to an NYPD spokesperson.
Police from the 114th Precinct in Astoria responded to a 911 call of an assault in progress inside the school on Broadway and 21st Street just before 12:40 p.m. after the victim was involved in a physical altercation with another 16-year-old and a 15-year-old when he was stabbed in the head with an unknown object, police said.
A 14-year-old boy was found to have a knife. EMS responded to the crime scene and rushed the victim to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.
The 14-year-old was taken into custody and booked at the 114th Precinct, where he was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Three persons of interest were taken into custody and later charged at the precinct.
A 16-year-old was charged with assault. A 15-year-old was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon, and a 16-year-old was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and assault. None were named because they are minors, and the investigation remains ongoing, according to the NYPD spokesperson.
“Violence has absolutely no place in our schools, and this behavior is unacceptable,” Department of Education spokeswoman Jenna Lyle said. “Our school staff and NYPD School Safety Agents immediately responded to an incident between students at the school, and the school was placed under a soft lockdown, which was lifted.”
Two students received non-life-threatening injuries during the fracas.
“Security will be increased at this school in the coming days,” Lyle said. “A community-based organization will be providing violence interruption work through Project PIVOT, and we will be providing additional emotional supports to any students who need it.”