Details Of Northgate High Stabbing Come To Light Tuesday

A male freshman at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek remains in custody at juvenile hall, facing charges of attempted murder and mayhem, after he allegedly lured a female classmate to a secluded part of the campus and attacked her with a knife without warning April 25.

The girl, who reportedly underwent surgery to repair wounds to her face, throat and arm, is currently recovering at home, according to police.

Neither student, both 14, have been identified due to their ages.

But work by Bay Area News Group court reporter Nate Gartrell determined that the boy, allegedly wearing a “Scream” mask popularized by the horror movie of the same name, lured the victim to a secluded part of the campus with the promise of giving her “a surprise” before ambushing her with a knife at approximately 1 p.m. – inflicting the wounds to her throat, face, and arm.

Gartrell’s reporting determined that the attack stopped when a campus supervisor heard the girl’s screams and rushed to intervene, prompting the boy to drop his knife and mask and run in an effort to escape the school official, who tackled and held him until Walnut Creek police arrived.

The motive for the attack remains unclear or, at least, unstated as police continue to investigate, the boy’s family telling police he has a mental disorder, according to Gartrell’s reporting.

Police said the weapon used the day of the attack was a steak knife, though two additional knives and a hammer were subsequently seized during a search of the suspect’s home.