Machete Attack On School

There was a frightening attack inside a Pennsylvania elementary school Friday, reports CBS News Correspondent Stephen Clark.

A man wielding a machete and a baseball bat chased a principal through the school halls, injuring her, two teachers and five kindergartners.

But none of the injuries were life-threatening.

William Michael Stankewicz, 56, was arrested about 20 minutes after the midday attack at North Hopewell-Winterstown Elementary School, about 75 miles west of Philadelphia.

The school, with about 320 students and 50 faculty members, was closed after the attack and students were sent home.

Stankewicz, who lives about 400 miles away, in Johnson City, Tenn., once lived in the area but had no known connection to the school, prosecutor Thomas Kelley said.

He was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and bringing a weapon onto school property.

Stankewicz had no connections to the school and the motive was unknown, officials said.

Stankewicz didn't enter any classrooms, said Terry Robinson, the school district's business manager. The attack happened in the principal's office, an adjacent nurse's office and in the hall.

"We heard screaming from outside in the hall," said one 12-year-old, who was in her sixth-grade classroom when the attack began. She also heard crying. "I think it was a teacher, maybe," she said.

"When something tragic like this happens you think, 'That can't happen in York County.' Well, I guess that's our naivete showing," Robinson said.

The five children were "injured, but not severely," the school district said in a statement. They were taken by their parents to family physicians or area hospitals.

The three injured women were taken to Memorial Hospital in York. Principal Norina Bentzel, 41, was slashed on her arm and hand; and Linda Collier, 52, a kindergarten teacher, was in surgery for cuts to her hand. Third-grade teacher Stacey Bailey, 33, had minor injuries and was expected to be treated and released.

Outside doors at the school, located about 75 miles west of Philadelphia, are normally kept locked during classes. The school has a keycard security system, but Stankewicz apparently entered the building sometime Friday morning behind a parent who was walking in, said Patrick McFadden, executive director for York County Emergency Services.

One of the first 911 calls to police was from a woman hiding in the principal's office with the door locked and two children inside, he said.

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