Four injured after student attacked outside Baltimore school, police say
BALTIMORE -- Four people were injured after a student was attacked outside of Carver Vocational-Technical High School during dismissal on Thursday afternoon, according to Baltimore City School district officials.
Baltimore Police said around 2:35 p.m., a student was attacked by two people. During the attack, the student, suspects and a staff member who responded were injured.
Police said all four were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Carver principal Craig Rivers said three students and a staff member were cut.
"School administration and School Police intervened swiftly, and the situation was quickly brought under control," Rivers said in a letter to families. "Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken following an investigation of the incident. At Carver, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We work daily to ensure a safe and positive environment for teaching and learning."
According to Sherry Christian, Baltimore City Public Schools Media and Public Relations Manager, one arrest has been made since the incident.
The names, ages, and weapons used in the crime have not been released since all three of the students involved will be processed via the juvenile justice system.
Youth violence tracker
During the 2024-25 school year, there have been at least 205 armed incidents within two blocks of Baltimore City schools, according to the CBS News gun violence tracker. There were 526 during the 2023-24 school year.
The gun tracker also shows that at least 47 children and teens, 18 years or younger, were victims of armed violence near schools this school year, and at least 389 children of teens faced a threat of armed violence in Baltimore within the past 12 months.
Juveniles held accountable
A new Maryland law makes it possible for children between the ages of 10 and 12 to be charged with illegal gun possession, auto theft, animal cruelty, and sexual offense in the third degree. Before the change, children had to be 13 to be charged with these offenses.
It also allows the state's attorney's office to review cases against young people who are under the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) supervision.
The state also formed a commission to hold the Department of Justice accountable and provide comprehensive rehabilitative support for justice-involved youth.
Charging minors as adults
On Thursday, the Maryland Public Defenders Office pushed state lawmakers to put an end to automatically charging minors as adults.
According to the OPD, Maryland ranked second behind Alabama in the number of juveniles between 14 to 17 who are sent to adult court.
"The automatic charging process disproportionately impacts Black and brown children," according to OPD Regional Director of Youth Defense Robin Salter. Black children make up 31% of the state's population, but 81% of the minors charged as adults, according to data from OPD.