On April 9, Alex Hribal committed a mass stabbing at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania. The sixteen year-old sophomore, who had no record of criminal or disruptive behavior, slashed and/or stabbed a total of 22 people. Twenty-one of the victims were his fellow students and the other was a security guard at the school.
Hribal simply took two common kitchen knives and went on a stabbing spree at his 1,200-student high school during a passing period. The attack finally ceased when an assistant principal stepped in and tackled Hribal. Both the school and the family and friends of Alex Hribal are confused by his actions. There is no evidence that the attack was targeting any particular student(s) or that Hribal was being bullied. He is being charged with four counts of attempted murder and 21 counts of aggravated assault. It is being debated as to whether he will be tried as an adult or a minor. If tried as an adult, Hribal could face decades in jail. Prosecutors are hesitant to try him as a juvenile as this could assure his freedom by the age of 21, despite the severity of the crime. Although there are no past records of mental instability, mental health will be the main focus of Hribal’s case. However, the specifics of what type of defense they will make from a mental health prospective is currently unknown.
As of Saturday, five students remain in the hospital, four of which are in critical condition. After being temporarily closed due to this tragic event, the suburban Pittsburg school reopened on Tuesday. Students, staff, and families are still processing what happened and continue to feel uneasy. Franklin alumni Noah Rabe, who is planning a worship service to be held on the school football field says, “Even the strongest of students will be uneasy.”
Around the country, peoples’ hearts go out to all of those who were affected by this horrible stabbing.