'A tough week' for Brockton Therapeutic after student stabbed, another murdered

Christopher Butler, The Enterprise
·3 min read
Brockton Public School Superintendent Michael Thomas speaks at a press conference about the stabbing inside the Brockton Therapeutic Day School outside the Brockton Public Schools Crosby Administration Building on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

BROCKTON – The school nurse at Brockton Therapeutic Day School sprang into action Thursday morning after a 17-year-old student was stabbed by a 16-year-old student inside the school between classes near the school's gymnasium.

During a press conference outside the Brockton Public Schools administration building, Superintendent Mike Thomas commended the nursing staff on their swift response to the assault. The victim is recovering in the hospital from injuries that were not life-threatening and is responsive.

The incident comes just two days after Brockton Therapeutic Day School student Nehemiah Cepeda was shot and killed in his home.

"The school staff has had a tough week," Thomas said. "We've had a lot of therapy support."

Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez said the stabbing is an isolated event and the incident is under investigation by the police department. It's unclear if the stabbing had any relation to Cepeda's death. It's also unclear if the two students had any form of relationship previously.

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How did knife get past metal detectors?

Officials said it's unknown how the suspect snuck a knife into the building, as metal detectors can be found in the school. No one in the school knew the weapon was in the building. Mayor Robert Sullivan said every metal detector in the school district will be checked for sensitivity to ensure schools are safe.

"When we talk about safety in our schools, it's paramount," Sullivan said.

Various counseling services, including therapy dogs, are present in the school and the school's staff is trained in trauma support.

What happened?

At 9:38 a.m., police arrived at Brockton Therapeutic Day School, a small school for students with disabilities. Thomas said a school staff member witnessed the stabbing and immediately notified the nurse via walkie-talkie.

The staff member allegedly took down the student and took away the weapon before nurses arrived with first-aid equipment. EMTs transported the victim by ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center and the suspect was brought to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth to be evaluated.

"Thank God a true tragedy was avoided," said the mayor.

Brockton Public Schools spokesperson Jess Silva-Hodges said in a statement Thursday afternoon, "All students were held in their classrooms for approximately one hour while police and school administrators investigated the incident.

"Given the need for social emotional supports resulting from the recent tragic loss of a ninth grade Huntington student, we felt it important to continue the school day while giving families the option to dismiss their children."

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Thomas said he visited the student who was stabbed roughly 30 minutes after he was transported to the hospital. He said the student was responsive and alert.

"We're living in a tough time, especially for school systems," he said. "It's our job to support them."

'Crying together, grieving together'

Thomas said he visited the school the day of Cepeda's death. He said the student body was "crying together, grieving together," and that even food service workers cried while making food for the students.

With roughly 40 students enrolled at the school, Thomas said it's a close-knit community.

"They're like a family," he said. "It's amazing to see them coming together and supporting each other."

Thomas said the school staff will be visiting students' homes today to help students and families through this difficult moment.

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"Sometimes they have difficulty processing," Thomas said.

Police say Cepeda was killed by his stepfather Justelino Resende, who helped raise Cepeda since he was 2. Resende has been charged with murder.

As Cepeda's classmates continue to grieve and process Thursday's stabbing, the police department will investigate the incident.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton Therapeutic Day School: student stabbed two days after murder