Student, 13, in critical condition after being stabbed in leg at Lindenhurst Middle School by fellow student, police say

A 12-year-old boy at Lindenhurst Middle School stabbed a 13-year-old fellow student in the upper leg and groin with a 6-inch knife during an altercation Monday afternoon that triggered a 90-minute lockdown, Suffolk County police said.

School security quickly applied a tourniquet at the scene, while a second one was applied by a responding First Precinct officer, Dep. Insp. Sean Beran said during a news conference Monday outside the school.

The victim was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital where he underwent surgery for undisclosed injuries. He was in critical but stable condition but "lost a lot of blood,” Beran said.

“It’s absolutely horrible,” Beran said, adding that the wound did not sever the boy’s femoral artery. “That’s someone’s son.” 

The 12-year-old suspect was charged with juvenile delinquency — the equivalent of adult charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon, authorities said. He was expected to be arraigned in Family Court. 

Authorities did not know how the boy brought the knife into the school

Javier Portillo, a 12-year-old seventh grader, said he saw the two boys fighting in the hallway. 

"I saw someone stabbed and there was a bunch of blood. It was scary,” he said. “I was walking to lunch and went to other side of the hallway and went to lockdown.”

Neither student involved in the altercation was identified.

"Because today’s incident remains an open police matter, the details that I can share are limited at this time," District Superintendent Anthony Davidson wrote in a message to parents Monday. "We know that many in our community will have questions, but I ask for your understanding and patience as we work with the police."

Mayor Mike Lavorata said he was taken inside the school and saw the crime scene, describing floors and stairs covered in blood and a sneaker left behind.

“Seeing blood on the ground of a middle school is very disturbing,” he said. “I’m sure it was a sight that many of [the students] never expected to see.”

The incident occurred at about 12:30 p.m. inside a second-floor hallway at the middle school, located on South Wellwood Avenue, police said. Authorities immediately contacted Suffolk police, who locked down the school, officials said.

Shortly after 2 p.m., the lockdown was lifted and students were released to their parents, authorities said.

Mario Leguizamon was at the school to pick up his 13-year-old son, Lucas. 

“I’m relieved I was able to get him and we’re together now,” Leguizamon said. “I’m very concerned about what the school is doing and what the protocol will be the next couple days. It’s absurd what’s going on.” 

Lucas, who transferred to the school two months ago, said he was in class when he saw the fight in the hall.

“I saw kids fighting and someone pulled knife and stabbed him in the leg,” Lucas said. “They were screaming at each other but no one thought they would pull out a knife.”

Eugenia Sailer said she got a call from her 14-year-old daughter about the stabbing after the school was placed on lockdown.

“My daughter said, 'Someone got stabbed. Please come help me,' ” she said.

Sailer said she previously expressed concern about the need for additional mental health intervention resources at the middle school.

“We need children to get proper mental health so this doesn’t happen. It doesn’t matter the antecedent of why it happened; it shouldn’t happen,” she said.

All middle school after-school activities were canceled Monday, Davidson told parents.

"I know that today created angst for many in our school community," he wrote. "We sympathize with what our staff, students and families are feeling. Please know that our school support and guidance staff is always available to anyone who needs assistance, especially as you work to process today’s news."

The stabbing occurred hours after a 28-year-old shot and killed three children and three adults at a Christian private school in Nashville Monday morning, police said. 

Police planned to increase patrols around all schools in Suffolk, but did not directly link the heightened security to the Lindenhurst stabbing or the Nashville shooting. Nassau was also boosting their presence at schools. 

“We’re going to be vigilant with school safety like we always have been,” Beran said. 

— With Denise Bonilla