The investigation to determine the motive behind the fatal stabbing in Aptos high school is still being conducted by the Santa Cruz county sheriff.
On Wednesday, an Aptos High sophomore named Kaley Hadland gathered her bag and possessions at the front gate, which were confiscated by the authorities after a deadly stabbing happened inside the campus.
“It felt like at that moment, everything became, like real and I finally realized this is a serious thing,” the student said as she positioned near her mother.
According to the Santa Cruz County sheriff’s investigators, deputies went to the school on Tuesday afternoon after receiving a stabbing report.
There they found a wounded student, 17, near the swimming pool. The minor victim (name withheld) was brought to the nearest hospital but later succumbed to wounds.
Officials said they are not releasing his identity since he’s a minor.
Some of the students have the evidence on their electronic gadgets, said Jim Hart, Santa Cruz County Sheriff.
“Anybody who viewed this horrible event is strictly a witness. And we just want their statement and any data that they may have,” Hart said.
The school was shut for a couple of days as the students who are going through a rough time are being assisted by district officials.
According to investigators, two students aged 14 and 17 were being investigated into the juvenile hall in connection to the crime.
“The kid was in there for about 40 minutes, sitting with us, and then they handcuffed him. And that’s when it started to feel real. Because we were actually close to one of the suspects,” Hadland said, as reported by KTVU.
“The death of our student at Aptos High School is a loss that impacts each of us profoundly. Our district is mobilizing extensive resources and services to support and care for our community…,” Pajaro Valley Unified School District, meanwhile, expressed through a letter to the community on Wednesday. “This is probably going to be something that’s looked at in an ongoing way,” said Santa Clara University psychologist Dr. Thomas Plante. “Sometimes these stresses kind of linger on.”
Two of the minors involved in the case could be charged as early as Thursday, sheriff’s officials said.
