BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Buffalo man was arrested after a slashing incident that allegedly happened Wednesday afternoon outside of Riverside High School.
Buffalo Police responded to a call around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. When officers arrived, they found a student who they said had been "slashed" outside.
That student was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center to be treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Police said he was stabbed multiple times.
Buffalo Police on Wednesday night announced that 19-year-old Makai Cook was arrested in connection to the stabbing. The charges he faces includes one felony count of assault; one misdemeanor count of menacing, one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a weapon, and one misdemeanor count of trespassing.
Cook was arraigned in Buffalo City Court Thursday morning.
Buffalo Police had said they were "questioning a number of individuals in connection with the slashing," a city spokesperson said during an update around 5 p.m.
Marc Bruno, a history teacher of over two decades at Riverside High School, told 2 On Your Side that Wednesday’s incident was not an isolated occurrence. He said he has been filing grievance reports with the district specifically related to school safety and violence at Riverside since he began his career.
“This is an issue that's spiraling out of control,” Bruno said. “It should not take someone getting slashed for people to take safety and security seriously at this building.”
Jeffrey Hammond, the director of public relations and information for Buffalo Public Schools, told 2 On Your Side that a soccer game scheduled for Wednesday night at Riverside was canceled "strictly as a precaution."
Hammond said the weapon was never inside the school.
"As this type of behavior will not be tolerated, the Buffalo Public Schools are supporting the Buffalo Police Department's criminal investigation into an altercation that happened after dismissal outside of Riverside High School," Hammond said in a statement.
"According to the initial reports, there were two students involved in an altercation, and one of them allegedly slashed the other with a knife. A non-life-threatening injury was sustained by the assaulted student, who was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. It is crucial to emphasize that no one else was in danger because the suspected weapon did not enter the school.
"Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams has directed Crisis Prevention and Response Staff to be onsite at Riverside High School to provide support to students and staff. As this is an ongoing criminal investigation, we cannot comment further at this time.”
Cook is expected to appear in court October 10 for a felony hearing. He is currently being held without bail. A temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim.
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