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One female student dead, one injured after stabbing at B.C. school
Abbotsford Senior Secondary School in Abbotsford where the stabbing took place. Photo courtesy the Unitech Construction Management website.
Police say a female student is dead and another is in hospital following a stabbing at a high school in Abbotsford, B.C.
Abbotsford police Chief Bob Rich says a young man is in custody and it appears he is not a student at the school.
Officers were called at 2:05 p.m. Tuesday and arrived at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School to find two female students with stab wounds.
School staff had subdued the suspect while teachers and other students were administering first aid to the victims, Rich said.
The two girls, whose names and ages have not been released, were taken to hospital.
"I am so sorry to tell you now that one of the students has succumbed to her injuries," Rich told media Tuesday night.
The other female student remains in hospital in stable condition, he said.
Both Abbotsford Senior Secondary and Abbotsford Middle Secondary School were locked down while police searched for additional suspects, but none were found.
Police have not yet confirmed the suspect's identity and it's not yet clear whether the suspect knew the victims, Rich says.
"Who he is, what was driving him, is very much a matter for investigators at this time," he says.
The Integrated Homicide Investigations Team is taking over the case.
Police say video of the stabbing was widely shared online.
"Out of respect for the family, we are asking that the video not be shared further and not be broadcasted," Rich says.
The police chief says although he doesn't yet know exactly what happened, he was thrilled by how staff at the school reacted to the attack.
"I believe the staff were so proactive and so quick that further tragedies probably were prevented by their actions," Rich says.
The Abbotsford School District released a statement Tuesday night saying teams have been deployed to provide support for staff and students.
Abbotsford Senior Secondary will be closed until further notice to allow for the police investigation.
"We are a very caring community and when one of use hurts, we all do," the statement said.
Provincial Education Minister Mike Bernier and B.C. Premier Christy Clark also shared their condolences online.
"This is so heartbreaking. Thinking of the families and friends of those involved tonight," Clark tweeted.
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