Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the on-campus stabbing of a Rancho Cucamonga High School student, authorities confirmed Thursday.
Deputies were sent to the school about 1:22 p.m. Wednesday after a 17-year-old boy was found with a stab wound to his stomach, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release.
The 11th grader, whose name is Mylon, was taken to a local hospital for treatment and was expected to OK.
Although two teens involved in the incident were quickly taken into custody, witnesses were unsure exactly how many people were involved, prompting authorities began to search for additional attackers who reportedly fled the scene.
The mother of the victim thought as many as five people were involved in the attack.
“I know it was five kids who jumped him and one of course stabbed him,” Anasa Lavender told KTLA.
Due to the unknown number of people involved, authorities locked down the high school and nearby Carlton P. Lightfoot Elementary School, the Sheriff’s Department stated.
Los Osos High School was also put on temporary campus restriction as authorities continued their search.
A third, and ultimately final, person suspected in the attack was apprehended after “an alert citizen” spotted him and called deputies, the Sheriff’s Department stated.
The suspected attackers, two 17-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy, were booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy, the Sheriff’s Department stated.
Authorities said they recovered a weapon, but no description of it was given.
Investigators believe the stabbing was the result of an ongoing personal dispute between the victim and his alleged attackers.
The victim’s mother told KTLA her son was attacked because of a girl.
“I guess the girl didn’t want him talking to her and he said something to her, and then her cousins came in and got him,” she said.
Additional deputies were present at the campus Thursday, although there was no known credible threat to the high school, according to the Sheriff’s Department.