By Matt Zapotosky
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 6, 2009

A 16-year-old male student at a high school in Charles County stabbed a 17-year-old female student in the back with a steak knife yesterday, seriously injuring her in a crowded hallway outside the school's cafeteria, police said.

The incident at McDonough High School in Pomfret occurred shortly before noon, said Diane Richardson, a spokeswoman for the county sheriff's office. Students were changing classes and the hallways were filled when the sophomore attacked the senior, she said. No motive has been determined, she said.

"There were no confrontations," she said. "It was a sudden attack."

The students knew each other, but the nature of their relationship was unclear, said Katie O'Malley-Simpson, a county schools spokeswoman. "It's a small school, and most of the kids know the other kids," she said.

The girl was taken to a hospital with two stab wounds, Richardson said. The boy also went to the hospital with an injury to his hand. A student who tried to intervene during the attack was treated by a school nurse.

McDonough's school resource officer and another police officer at the school subdued the attacker, Richardson said. His name was not released, and he is expected to be charged with first-degree assault.

Violent incidents are uncommon in the county schools, O'Malley-Simpson said.

McDonough's principal, Jervie Petty, sent parents a letter telling them about the incident and asking them to review the school system's code of conduct.

"We take the possession of weapons and attacks on students seriously, and in addition to possible criminal charges placed by police, any student in possession of a weapon on school grounds is subject to discipline up to and including expulsion," Petty said in the letter.

Staff writer Jenna Johnson contributed to this report.