Oakdale Police responded to an assault with a deadly weapon on the campus of Oakdale High School Monday morning at 9:20 a.m. after a bloodied individual came into the school office with stab wounds.
Emergency medical crews responded and treated two stab wounds to the victim’s chest and kidney area. The victim, a 16-year-old male student, was transported by ambulance to Memorial Medical Center in Modesto.
Police had areas of the school marked off with crime scene tape at the rear of the campus and stated the attack occurred in the bathroom area, near the school library. When officers checked the area they found a large presence of blood.
With summer school in session, the school was locked down while officers checked the area for suspects or additional victims.
At the scene, Sergeant Ben Savage said police were in the process of investigating the crime and detectives were called in to investigate the assault.
Savage also said police have little to go on because the victim initially was not cooperating with police about the incident.
Police lifted the lockdown shortly after 11 a.m.
Summer school administrator Shannon Kettering said she only had preliminary information and referred all questions regarding the incident to police officials.
Oakdale Police Chief Lester Jenkins stated investigators learned that only one class was out on break at the time of the stabbing and the victim was part of that class with a trail of blood leading to the classroom where the victim went after he was stabbed before he was taken to the office.
“Through witness and other statements, we quickly zeroed in on a suspect at that time,” Chief Jenkins said, adding that the incident is being considered gang related.
Police took into custody a 15-year-old juvenile male around 11:20 a.m. who had also returned to class after the stabbing.
“Eventually, the victim cooperated and identified the student we had in custody as the one who stabbed him,” Jenkins said, “Through questioning, the suspect also admitted to the stabbing.”
Police are not disclosing the motive.
Jenkins said the 15-year old was booked into Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall for attempted murder and a gang enhancement.
On Monday the Oakdale Joint Unified School District released the following statement on its webpage:
“An incident was investigated at Oakdale High School Summer School. An altercation occurred in a restroom where a student sustained injuries that needed medical attention. As a precaution, the school was placed on a Shelter-in-Place to support Oakdale Police investigation. Upon the Police Department conclusion of evidence gathering. (sic) An “All Clear” was given at 11:10 a.m. We cannot provide information specific to the case at this time until factual determinations have been made by Police. The school district will continue to cooperate with the authorities and institute safety procedures to keep students safe. Thank you.”