EspañolLos Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Investigating Stabbing Incident At Nogales High School In La Puente
LA PUENTE, CALIFORNIA (February 27, 2024) – A student at Nogales High School in La Puente is recovering after being stabbed by another student in the school’s bathroom on Monday.
According to the Rowland Unified School District, there was an altercation between two students inside the boy’s bathroom, which led to one student being stabbed with a knife. The campus of Nogales High School was immediately placed on lockdown after the attack.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. The student was conscious and responsive before being taken to a local hospital.
A full investigation into the stabbing at Nogales High School remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Los Angeles County School Stabbings
Violence within the K – 12 school system remains all too common. This is particularly true in Los Angeles County. According to the LA School Report, “An examination of publicly available LAPD data shows that crime at local schools is not rare, though the most serious incidents happen infrequently. In the academic year that began in August, the Los Angeles Police Department fielded more than 150 monthly crime reports six times. In March there were 218 incidents.” Schools should take a number of steps to prevent violence on campus.
- Schools should develop and implement comprehensive safety plans.
- Schools should provide students with access to mental health professionals, counselors, and resources to address the underlying issues that can lead to violence.
- Schools should promote a positive school climate.
- Schools in certain areas may need to use enhanced security measures, including the use of controlled access points, security cameras, and security guards.
Depending on the facts of any case, a school could be liable if a child is injured on campus. Schools must protect children from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes harm brought on by criminal activity. Consider, for example, Taylor v. Oakland Scavenger Co., 17 Cal. 2d 594 [110 P.2d 1044], “It is the duty of the school authorities to supervise at all times the conduct of the children on the school grounds and to enforce those rules and regulations necessary to their protection.” If a school has prior notice that a bathroom or some other area within a school is a locus for violence, the school must take action. Failing to take action could form the basis of a negligence claim. It is important that certain steps are taken after any school attack.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- The security measures that the school took beforehand should be understood.
- An experienced personal injury attorney should be contacted.
The vast majority of the violence that occurs in schools is preventable. Schools should take a holistic approach to keeping students safe, which includes reasonable security measures. But far too often, schools fail to de-escalate conflicts between students, which may build up over time. Any person injured in an attack at a Los Angeles County school may have recourse through a civil claim. A personal injury attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Los Angeles County School Stabbings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP were very concerned to hear about this stabbing at Nogales High School in La Puente. It is our sincere hope that the victim will be able to make a full recovery. The school district should do the right thing and take measures to prevent similar attacks at this school.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Los Angeles County school stabbing? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help you. We are committed to getting victims the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we may be able to help you. You can contact us anytime at 626-799-9375.
