One student was fatally stabbed after a classroom fight escalated at Maryvale High School in Phoenix on Tuesday, Aug. 19, according to the Arizona Department of Education news release.
Shortly before 11 a.m. local time, Phoenix police officers and fire crews responded to the high school. It remains unclear whether the two teens knew each other or what triggered the confrontation.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said in a statement that the school’s safety officer responded immediately and “rendered aid to the student.”
Both students were transported to the hospital. One teen succumbed to severe injuries and died, while the other sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The school was placed under an active lockdown following the incident, a Phoenix Union High School District spokesperson confirmed. All other students and faculty were reported safe.
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“The death of a student as the result of a stabbing at Maryvale High School is a terrible tragedy. Schools must be safe places,” Horne said. “This terrible incident reinforces my commitment to doing everything possible to make schools safe.”
Phoenix City Councilwoman Betty Guardado also issued a statement following the teen’s death:
“I am heartbroken and deeply disturbed by the violent incident that took place today at Maryvale High School. My thoughts are with the student who was injured, their family, and the entire school community as they process this traumatic event,” she wrote, per Fox 10.
“Classrooms should be a safe place for all students. As a mother and a representative of our community, I want everyone to feel safe at school. Our community stands united in support, and I am committed to working with the school district, community and Phoenix Police to ensure their safety.”
The school, with a student body of 2,850, is equipped with metal detectors and a school security officer. “Neither prevented this tragedy. These measures created the appearance of security—but they are not what our community truly needs,” said Councilwoman Anna Hernandez.
Hernandez added that her office “will continue to push Phoenix City Council and Phoenix Union School District to redirect funding away from surveillance-heavy responses and toward mental health services, school counselors, peer support networks, and preventative care.”
Councilwoman Laura Pastor also expressed outrage in a statement shared with PEOPLE. She offered “deepest sorrow and condolences to the family who lost their son in this tragic accident,” adding, “At the same time, I am angry. I am angry that this happened at a school — a place that is meant to be a safe environment for learning, growth, and support.”
Noting that “safety is a top priority,” Pastor said she will “support efforts to enhance safety measures in our schools” to help prevent another tragedy.
Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington extended condolences while urging the community to come together:
“No parent should have to endure the pain of losing a child in this way, and no student should ever feel unsafe in a classroom,” Washington said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
Representatives for the Phoenix Police Department and Phoenix Union High School District did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Tuesday.
