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Student, 13, stabbed at N. Philadelphia school

The boy was stabbed by a classmate at the William Dick School, located at 24th and Diamond.

Parents wait for their children after a stabbing at the William Dick K-8 Public School on the 2400 block of Diamond Street in North Philadelphia on Friday.
Parents wait for their children after a stabbing at the William Dick K-8 Public School on the 2400 block of Diamond Street in North Philadelphia on Friday.Read moreDAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer

A 13-year-old boy was stabbed Friday by a classmate at a North Philadelphia school during an argument in science class, officials said.

The victim, who was stabbed in the stomach with scissors, was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, where he was reported in stable condition. The stabbing occurred at William Dick School, a K-8 institution with 524 students at 24th and Diamond Streets, according to Philadelphia police.

Police and Lee Whack, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia School District, said a 13-year-old girl was arrested and the weapon was recovered.

Two eighth graders had been arguing during science class, Whack said, and as class was wrapping up just before 11 a.m., "the teacher was working to de-escalate the argument, but a female student produced a pair of scissors and did stab the male student."

The scissors were class equipment, Whack said.

Police were immediately called; the school nurse accompanied the male student, whose name was not released, to the hospital.

School staff were preparing a letter to go to all parents, and calls would also be made to students' homes, said Whack.

The matter remains under investigation, but the assailant will be subject to discipline.

"Violence like this is unacceptable," Whack said. "Our hearts and thoughts are with the student who was injured, for his speedy recovery."

At midday, a steady stream of parents arrived to take their children home early. School remained in session.

Angelica Gonzalez didn't know what was going on, but when she saw a line of police cars outside her daughters' school, she made a beeline for William Dick.

"Oh, my God," she said, putting her hand over her mouth, when she heard that a student had been stabbed inside. "We're moving — next year."

Gonzalez said that before Friday, she was pleased with the school, where her three daughters, in kindergarten and first and third grades, had good teachers and were learning a great deal.

Jayanah Gonzalez, 6, said she knew something was wrong.

"I heard helicopters, and my teacher saw the ambulance," said Jayanah. "She opened her mouth wide when she saw it, because she was surprised."

Aliyyah Daniels walked out of the school, a brick building with a colorful mural painted on the front facing Diamond, with her stepson, Faakhlyr. When she heard that a stabbing had occurred, she was frantic, Daniels said.

"I just wanted to know if it was my kid who got stabbed," said Daniels. Faakhlyr transferred to William Dick last year, she said, and in that time, "I never saw violence."

But she was rattled, Daniels said.

"I'm thinking about finding a new school for him," she said.