Michigan High School Student Stabbed to Death in Classroom

A 16-year-old girl was stabbed in her the chest by a female classmate while in class at Fitzgerald High School in Michigan.

Michigan High School Student Stabbed to Death in Classroom

Danya Gibson, a student at Fitzgerald High School in Warren, Mich., was stabbed twice in the chest and killed by a classmate on Wednesday.

Gibson, 16, and another teenage girl were in a fight over a boy when she was stabbed in the chest with a steak knife, reports CBS News. She was pronounced dead an hour later at the hospital.

The stabbing occurred in a classroom around 8:30 a.m. and was witnessed by a teacher and 20 to 30 other students.

William Dwyer, Warren police commissioner, says the girls knew each other but had no trouble in the past. The boy they were allegedly fighting over is involved in the investigation.

A school resource officer on duty immediately began life-saving procedures and did “a superb job” responding to the incident, Dwyer reported.

“He was there administering CPR within seconds trying to save this young girl’s life,” Dwyer said.

The suspect was immediately taken into custody and authorities will pursue a murder charge. Her identity has not been revealed to the public yet.

Fitzgerald High School’s security is in question after it was discovered the suspect brought the steak knife into the school from home, according to Click On Detroit.

The school has implemented security practices such as backpack rules and security officers, however, there are no metal detectors on campus.

“I am very outspoken [about the] need for more funding to tighten up more [security] resources,” Dwyer said. “I have advocated for metal detectors in schools.”

The school was put on lockdown after the stabbing and remained closed until Thursday. Parents and students were encouraged to go to the school and speak to counselors for support.

A vigil was held in honor of Dayna Gibson at Fitzgerald High on Thursday. She was on the school robotics team, student council, cross-country team, and played in the marching band.

The suspect, who is confirmed to be a 17-year-old girl, was taken into custody and is waiting to be arraigned.

If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

About the Author

Contact:

Katie Malafronte is Campus Safety's Web Editor. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2017 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Writing & Rhetoric. Katie has been CS's Web Editor since 2018.

Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century

This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get Our Newsletters
Campus Safety Conference promo