NEW ROCHELLE, NY — As predicted by Talk of the Sound since the beginning of the school year, the failure of New Rochelle High School administrators to enforce their own “closed campus” policy had led to tragedy. A young woman is fighting for her life in a Bronx hospital after she was stabbed several blocks from the high school campus during the middle of the school day when school board policy requires all students to remain on campus until dismissed at the end of the school day. The incident is a direct result of the choice by New Rochelle High School Principal Reggie Richardson, Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Osborne and New Rochelle Board of Education President Rachel Relkin to allow hundreds of unsupervised students roam the streets of New Rochelle during the middle of the school day.
A female student was stabbed by a fellow New Rochelle High School student on North Avenue near Mayflower Avenue shortly after noon Wednesday, according to police sources. The student was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, reportedly with a stab wound to a lung.
We have unconfirmed reports that the altercation involved multiple students. That three female students were reportedly detained.
UPDATE 4:15 PM OFFICIAL NRPD STATEMENT
“At 12:21 PM today officers from the New Rochelle Police Department responded to the Dunkin’ Donuts located at 640 North Ave. on a report of an altercation where one party was possibly stabbed.
Responding officers interviewed an employee who stated that approximately five minutes earlier, a dispute occurred between 2 high school aged females. One female appeared to have been stabbed and the other female fled the scene. The female victim was aided by New Rochelle police and EMS personnel and transported to Jacobi Hospital with injuries that are considered life-threatening. The victims prognosis is not available at this time.
The incident is under investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact New Rochelle Police Department General Investigations Unit at 914-654-2270.
UPDATE: 1:22 PM Police have cordoned off the parking lot of the Dunkin’ Donuts at 646 North Avenue.
New Rochelle Board of Education policy states that New Rochelle High School is a “closed campus” but the policy has been widely ignored in recent years with hundreds of students leaving campus and heading towards a strip of restaurants on North Avenue and Coligini Avenue.
As a result of our reporting on New Rochelle High School’s “de facto” open campus policy, this reporter has been subjected to numerous threats of phyical violence both online and in person including on video tape. School officials have ignored repeated calls to address the rampant drug use, harrassment and phyical violence in the area around the school campus which occurs daily.
UPDATE 2:30 PM Dunkin’ Donuts has re-opened.
UPDATE: 5:10 PM The New Rochelle High School Student stabbed earlier today has died. Victim went “code blue” in ambulance on way to hospital, sources say
UPDATE 5:24 PM “The City School District of New Rochelle is saddened by the incident on North Avenue today in which a New Rochelle High School student was stabbed. The student was not in school today and the incident did not happen on school grounds.
New Rochelle High School and School District officials are cooperating fully with the New Rochelle Police Department in this matter.
The High School and District will make counselors, social workers and other professionals available for students and staff who require assistance for as long as is necessary.
All other information about the incident should come from the New Rochelle Police Department.
UPDATE 8:58 PM NRPD STATEMENT “The victim of the earlier stabbing has subsequently died and the incident is being investigated as a Homicide. The victim has been identified as Valeree Schwab age 16 of New Rochelle.”
The New Rochelle Police Department has identified a suspect and is actively endeavoring to locate said suspect. The suspect is encouraged to surrender to authorities.
UPDATE 9:13 PM New Rochelle Police investigating social media threat to shoot up New Rochelle High School, allegedly from stabbing victim’s boyfriend
UPDATE 10:12 PM NRPD officially released the name of the victim. Police have identified a suspect. Talk of the Sound has the name of the suspect. A review of video surveillance cameras at NRHS has confirmed the alleged perpetrator was in school Wednesday. No arrests have been made. The suspect remains at large.
UPDATE 7:29 AM CSDNR STATEMENT “Last night, a specific alleged threat against NRHS circulated on social media. NRPD, with cooperation from the District, investigated the alleged threat thoroughly and determined it to be unfounded. Thank you to those that brought the matter to our attention. The high school and district are closely coordinating with the New Rochelle Police Department and a detailed safety plan is in place at the school. Concerns about safety can be sent to CSDNRsecurity@nredlearn.org. The safety of our students and staff is the highest priority.”
UPDATE 7:32 PM 1/11 NRPD has no new statements at this time. Heavy police presence at NRHS this morning.
UPDATE 8:14 AM 1/11 Still no communication from New Rochelle Board of Education or New Rochelle High School building leadership to parents, staff or school community regarding death of one student or involvement of another in fatal stabbing. No instructions, no offer of grief counseling, no guidance at all. Likely at direction of lawyers anticipating litigation.
UPDATE 2:06 PM 1/11 NRPD STATEMENT Suspect Z’Inah Brown surrendered to The New Rochelle Police Department at 1:00 PM. She was taken into custody, booked for Murder 2nd degree and processed. She made no statements. The Westchester District Attorney’s office will ultimately decide what charges she will be arraigned on in New Rochelle City Court later today. The case remains under investigation.
For further information please contact Captain Gazzola 914-654-2253
Developing…
RELATED: Enough is Enough: Time to Enforce School Board’s Closed Campus Policy at New Rochelle High School – Part http://bit.ly/2xh2Ee9
“These students have absolutely no business off school grounds during the school day as school policy states: “New Rochelle High School students are required to adhere to the regulation of remaining on school grounds from their arrival at school until they are dismissed after their last class of instruction each school day. Students who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Superintendent’s Regulations and Administrative procedures.””
The New Rochelle Board of Education has a long-standing policy:
Board Policy 5520 (Adopted July 1, 1989
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