Full Breakdown
Stabbing at Tacoma’s Foss High School Leaves Six Injured
5/1/2026, 8:09:00 PM
Stabbing Incident at Foss High School
On April 30, 2026, a stabbing occurred at Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington. Police and fire crews responded to a 1:35 p.m. report of an altercation. Four students, a security guard, and the suspect—a student—were injured.
Timeline of Events
1:30 p.m. – 911 call reports a stabbing.
1:35 p.m. – Police dispatched.
1:38 p.m. – Fire arrives, treats victims, transports five patients. School locked down; suspect detained.
2:45 p.m. – Students released to a reunification area.
Late afternoon – All patients stable.
Injuries and Medical Response
Six people were taken to MultiCare hospitals: four students, the security guard, and the suspect. Four students arrived in critical condition; the guard and suspect sustained non-life-threatening injuries. By late afternoon all were listed as stable.
Authorities' Response
Police spokesperson Shelbie Boyd said the call indicated “some type of an altercation, a stabbing that occurred at the school.” Fire officials said crews “immediately treated and transported five patients to local hospitals.” District officials thanked staff and first responders, said the investigation remains open, canceled classes and after-school activities for May 1, and announced a May 4 reopening with counselors on site.
Eyewitness Accounts
Students said the conflict began over a vape pen and escalated when a knife was used. One 9th-grader described “blood everywhere” and a video of the fight circulating among peers. Another noted the lockdown announcement and rapid video spread.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports vary on the injured count—some list five victims, others six including the suspect. Weapon type and whether all injuries stemmed from stabbing remain unconfirmed, and the exact location of the altercation on campus has not been disclosed.
Significance
The incident revives concerns about weapon access and emergency response in Washington schools, especially given Foss High School’s 2007 fatal shooting. Community leaders stress the need for counseling and policy review to prevent future violence.
Next Steps
Foss High School will reopen on May 4 with counselors on site. Police and fire investigators continue evidence collection, while district finalizes disciplinary actions. Parents are being notified as the investigation proceeds.
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,” — Analayjha, 9th-grader, Foss High School
- “The call indicated that there was some type of an altercation, a stabbing that occurred at the school.” — Shelbie Boyd, Tacoma Police Department spokesperson
- “We are grateful for the quick, calm action of our staff and our first responders,” — Tacoma Public Schools statement
