Murrysville PA stabbing local news-25 mins after incident

Students stabbed at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville
By Amber Nicotra, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 reporter, anicotra@hearst.com
Jackie Schafer, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 weekend anchor/reporter, jackieschafer@hearst.com
Published On: Apr 09 2014 07:45:11 AM EDT
Updated On: Apr 09 2014 09:51:27 AM EDT
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MURRYSVILLE, Pa. -
As many as 20 people were injured Wednesday morning at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, where a student began stabbing people just before the start of the school day, according to Westmoreland County emergency management.

LIVE VIDEO: Watch ongoing coverage of the situation at Franklin Regional

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Four patients were flown to a hospital by medical helicopter. Eight were taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville -- one adult patient and seven patients between the ages of 15 and 17. Other patients were taken to UPMC East in Monroeville and to UPMC Presbyterian and Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

"There is an actor in custody. Murrysville police are in the process of interviewing him," said Dan Stevens, the county's deputy emergency management coordinator.

The suspect has not been publicly identified yet.

SLIDESHOW: Photos from the Franklin Regional stabbing scene

The stabbings happened in numerous classrooms throughout the building before classes had begun for the day, Stevens said.

VIDEO: Watch the interview with Dan Stevens

Not all 20 of the injured people were actually stabbed, Stevens said. Some of the injuries were described as cuts and scrapes.

Several police cars and ambulances are at the high school. Three medical helicopters are also there.

A student reported that someone came into the school with a knife and started slashing people, including some of his friends. That information has not been confirmed by police.

VIDEO: Interview with Franklin Regional student on lockdown

A woman told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that her son was in the hall, getting ready for class, when he heard screaming and saw someone stabbing students.

Murrysville police tweeted that students will be taken to Heritage Elementary School to be picked up by parents or otherwise safely dismissed.

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