Full Breakdown
Stabbing at Tacoma's Foss High School Leaves Multiple Injured
5/1/2026, 4:15:58 PM
Incident Summary
On Thursday, April 30, 2026, a stabbing occurred at Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington. Fire crews and police responded to reports of an altercation at approximately 1:30 p.m. and found four students, an adult security guard, and the suspect—all taken to local hospitals. The suspect, identified as a student, was also transported for treatment and placed in police custody. The campus was placed on lockdown while authorities secured the scene.
Timeline of Events
- 1:30 p.m. – 911 call reports possible stabbing.
- 1:35 p.m. – Tacoma Fire Department (TFD) and Tacoma Police Department (TPD) arrive on campus.
- 1:38 p.m. – First responders locate five victims; suspect is detained.
- 1:45 p.m. – Victims are loaded onto ambulances and routed to MultiCare Mary Bridge and Tacoma General hospitals.
- 2:00 p.m. – School placed on lockdown; students are evacuated to the parking lot for reunification with parents.
- 2:30 p.m. – Police confirm the scene is safe; lockdown lifted pending investigation.
Data & Statistics
- Injured parties: four students, one security guard, and the student suspect (six total).
- Condition: four students in critical or serious condition; the guard and suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
- Hospitals: MultiCare Mary Bridge Hospital and Tacoma General Hospital received patients.
- Initial reports varied, with some outlets citing five injured and others six.
Background: Prior Violence at Foss High School
Foss High School was the site of a fatal shooting in January 2007, when student Douglas Chanthabouly killed 17-year-old Samnang Kok. Chanthabouly received a 23-year prison sentence. The 2007 incident remains a reference point for community concerns about school safety.
Official Statements & Responses
Police spokesperson Officer Shelbie Boyd said the suspect is a student and that “the scene is safe.” Fire Department public information officer Chelsea Shepherd described the injuries as “possibly serious” and confirmed that all victims were transported to hospitals. A school spokesperson announced that parents were being notified and that the campus would remain closed while the investigation proceeds.
On-the-Ground Reports
Students described the confrontation as stemming from a dispute over a vape pen and, according to one witness, “over weed.” Witnesses reported seeing a video of the fight circulating among peers, describing “blood everywhere” and describing the assailant as an older student with prior jail time.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Number injured: early accounts listed five victims; later updates added the suspect, raising the total to six.
- Weapon used: sources mention a knife but some reports state the weapon type was unconfirmed.
- Location within school: officials have not disclosed the exact site of the altercation.
- Suspect identity: all sources agree the suspect is a student, yet a few initial reports questioned this detail.
Verbatim Quotes
- “So basically, this one guy, he took somebody’s vape pen, and they didn’t like that, so they were going to jump him — or they did I think. And he had a knife and he shanked four kids and one adult,” — Student, FOX 13 Seattle
- “It really disturbs me because the main reason this happened was over weed,” — Student, witness
- “It’s ghetto. Why are we stealing from people?” — Student, witness
- “scene is safe.” — Officer Shelbie Boyd, Tacoma Police Department
- “possibly serious,” — Chelsea Shepherd, Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson
Why It Matters
The incident revives longstanding concerns about violence in schools that have already experienced lethal events. It underscores the challenges of maintaining safety in a diverse, high-density campus and raises questions about conflict resolution among adolescents.
What’s Next
Authorities continue to investigate the motive and weapon used. Foss High School will remain closed pending a safety assessment, and parents are being advised to monitor communications from Tacoma Public Schools for updates on reopening and potential policy changes.
