October 31, 2022
UTICA, NY—One student was hospitalized and another is in custody following a stabbing at Proctor High School in Utica Monday morning, according to the Utica Police Department.
A 17-year-old African-American male attacked an 18-year-old Asian male in a first-floor hallway at about 10:50 a.m. The African-American male student stabbed the Asian student several times with a knife before staff members reached the pair.
The African-American teen was initially disarmed by one teacher and the Asian student was tackled to the ground by another school staff member.
Absolutely disgusting. A bully attacks an Asian teen (Karen refugee) at a Utica, New York high school pic.twitter.com/8G6Xf8xo15
— Asian Dawn (@AsianDawn4) November 1, 2022
According to AWA, the Asian student is a refugee from Thailand and his ethnicity is Karen. Witnesses indicate the Asian student was blindsided and stabbed multiple times in the back and in the hands. No other students attempted to help and recorded the incident instead.
Once the teens were separated, the black teen was held until security staff arrived. He was then taken away from the scene and brought to a secure area.
According to the Utica Police Department and Utica City School District, immediate medical care was provided to the victim. School nursing staff provided aid until the Utica Fire Department arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
The Utica Police Department Criminal Investigations Division and Juvenile Aid Unit are currently investigating the attack. Charges will be released as soon as the investigation allows.
Proctor High School campus will remain closed. Students will not be allowed to exit the building during free periods and for lunch.
Police will also be increased both inside and outside of the high school for the rest of the week.
The Karen are from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. They are an ethnic group who have resided in Burma for over two thousand years and were actually the original inhabitants of the region. The Karen fled Burma due to religious and ethnic prosecution by the government.
Feature Screenshots via Twitter