Middle school student injured in stabbing

COEUR d'ALENE - A Woodland Middle School student sustained non-life threatening injuries Friday after being stabbed three times with a pocket knife while at school.

The alleged suspect, another middle school student, was taken into custody by Coeur d'Alene police officers who responded to the school on St. Michelle Drive.

The stabbing took place during an altercation between the two students that occurred shortly before 2:30 p.m., as school was ending for the day.

"A teacher intervened immediately," said school district spokeswoman Laura Rumpler.

The identities and ages of the victim and male suspect were not released by school personnel or police because both are juveniles.

The school was locked down for about 15 minutes while police officers searched the school for the suspect. The perpetrator was located a short distance away from the school and taken into custody. An investigation is ongoing.

Initial reports were that the weapon was a pencil, but police officers later determined it was a pocket knife.

The school district has a zero tolerance policy regarding weapons of any kind.

"Our thoughts right now are with all the families involved," Rumpler said.

Counselors and school psychologists on the school district's crisis team will be at Woodland Middle School on Monday.

"Some students and staff personally witnessed the incident, and they're pretty shaken up," Rumpler said. "We want to be sure we support them."

To school officials' knowledge, Rumpler said, this is the first time an assault of this nature has occurred at Woodland.