14-year-old boy slashes girl's throat at Montrose High
By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published November 11, 2008 at 10:06 a.m.
Wlliam Woody © AP/The Montrose Daily Press
Students of Montrose High School are evacuated after a school-wide lock down following a knife attack on a 17-year-old female student early Tuesday morning Nov. 11, 2008 in Montrose, Colo. Police said a male suspect was arrested moments later after running from the scene.
A boy slashed the throat of a 17-year-old girl at Montrose High School on Tuesday morning as students readying for class watched in horror.
The victim, identified as Mallory Haulman by the Montrose Daily Press, was listed in serious condition after undergoing surgery at a local hospital.
Officials said her prognosis was good.
"Our student is out of surgery and in serious condition with a favorable outlook," said Linda Gann, spokeswoman for Montrose County School District Re-1J.
Later Tuesday evening, during a community meeting that drew more than 300 people to the school’s gymnasium, Montrose High Principal Jill Myers told parents, students and faculty members that she had spoken with Haulman’s mother, Alicia.
“She’s doing well and recovering well in a favorable manner,” Myers said, drawing a round of applause from the crowd.
Community members who attended the hourlong meeting peppered Myers with questions, most of which centered around how the school intends to respond to the attack and whether it will step up security.
Myers said administrators plan to implement several measures when school resumes Wednesday, including not allowing students to congregate in the halls without faculty present. She said administrators will work with extra police officers to monitor the halls and the main entrance to the school.
The girl is a softball player, an A-student and "just about as good a kid as you will ever meet," said Stephen Woody, publisher of the Montrose Free Press, and a friend of the family.
Mallory's father, Denny, is production manager at the newspaper and her mother, Alicia, is an ICU nurse, Woody said.
"I'm told she is in ICU, is recovering and is going to do well," said Woody.
Initial information is that the attacker was a 14-year-old boy who has had a troubled past, Woody said.
Gann said the boy, who was arrested within 30 minutes, was not a student at the high school.
Montrose Police Chief Tom Chinn said the boy ran from the scene but was spotted almost immediately by a patrol officer who chased him, cornering him at Townsend and South Third Street, the Daily Press reported.
"As soon as he saw the police car, he was running," Chinn said. "By the time I arrived, he was proned out on the ground" and cuffed.
Chinn said investigators are still trying to determine a motive, the Daily Press said. It was not known if the victim and attacker knew one another.
The stabbing was reported about 8 a.m. as hallways were thick with students preparing for classes to start.
"So there were quite a few students who witnessed the attack, which is, of course, very troubling to those of us who care about children," Gann said.
She credited school staffers for quickly providing first aid to the bleeding girl.
"There was some real heroism on the part our staff members who assisted the victim until medical personnel could arrive," Gann said.
The school went into lockdown to protect students until the suspect was arrested.
Then all 1,400 students were returned home for the day, she added. Some students returned home on buses and others were escorted to their parked cars. Parents were called to pick up those students who needed a ride home.
Counselors will be available when students and staff return Wednesday, Gann said.
Police asked anyone with information about the assault to call the department at 970-252-5200.
Mike Wiggins of The Daily Sentinel contributed to this report
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November 11, 2008
1:07 p.m.
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philvysor writes:
From what the Denver Post has posted sounds like some sort of crime of passion.
November 11, 2008
1:45 p.m.
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BigSky182 writes:
Isn't just about ANY crime committed by a 14 year old a "crime of passion"?
As for banning knives... I see the metaphore and I approve. Allow me to add to it by suggesting that knives are already "banned" from schools and non-student juveniles are "banned" from being on school property.
It almost looks as though "banning" things has little or no impact on reality since people who would commit a violent assault with a deadly weapon don't seem to care that they are breaking "the rules".
November 11, 2008
1:49 p.m.
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GILPINMAN writes:
posibly Obama will include straight edged weapons to his assault weapons ban, along with bats and axes. soda cans should be in there too or at least keep them from invalids in denver.
November 11, 2008
1:55 p.m.
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RealifeTauren writes:
Ricky. By your reckoning, the only thing that wouldn't be classified as an assault weapon, is your intellect...it's just not sharp enough.
1 victim, who will recover, from the knife attack...vs how many that could have been mown down by an automatic weapon?
November 11, 2008
2 p.m.
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rip_vw32 writes:
RealifeTauren: So what you are implying is that the one isn't important as the many?
November 11, 2008
2:02 p.m.
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toocool writes:
Anyone wonder why the 14 year old "troubled" brat wasn't in school?
November 11, 2008
2:15 p.m.
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NeilT writes:
Like bringing a knife to a gun fight?
Guns and knives don't kill people...
People raised by terribly neglectful and selfish parents that should never reproduce kill people.
We need to ban dumb parents that don't give a crap what their kids are doing!
November 11, 2008
2:18 p.m.
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philvysor writes:
toocool writes:
Anyone wonder why the 14 year old "troubled" brat wasn't in school?
Yes, he was probably expelled for some reason..... wonder why????
November 11, 2008
2:37 p.m.
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Steph writes:
NeilT hits the nail right on the head. Excellent!
November 11, 2008
2:42 p.m.
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UNV_ME writes:
GILPINMAN... I know you're still bitter about Obama winning the election... but grow up and get over it.
November 11, 2008
2:49 p.m.
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rip_vw32 writes:
UNV_ME: had to go there... that is sad....
November 11, 2008
2:52 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
--shaking head in disbelief--
My prayers to this young girl and her family.
November 11, 2008
3:27 p.m.
koop writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
November 11, 2008
3:37 p.m.
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cardap1 writes:
It concerns me that an attack on a student has to come down to politics. Did you actually think that a student being stabbed gives you an excuse to broadcast your political agenda.
November 11, 2008
3:41 p.m.
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Pithaughn writes:
Please have a little compassion, for gosh sakes. Both kids are victims, the children who witnessed this are victims. The staff and teachers who were there are victims. The families, friends and loved ones of the above are all victims. Please have kind thoughts and prayers for all.
November 11, 2008
4:04 p.m.
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keith0907 writes:
Now you know why Michelle and Barack are sending their kids to private schools. Just like nearly every other wealthy politician.
DC government schools are even worse than Denver's government schools.
November 11, 2008
4:58 p.m.
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LadyBird112 writes:
Pithaugn, HOW are both kids victims? One kid did the stabbing, the other was stabbed. I count one.
November 11, 2008
4:59 p.m.
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MeAgain writes:
People raised by terribly neglectful and selfish parents that should never reproduce kill people.
We need to ban dumb parents that don't give a crap what their kids are doing!
If only it were possible to make them pass CSAP and/or a common sense test before their reproductive organs could be turned on. (can you sense the sarcasm?)
Truth be told, it is hard on the kids that witnessed the attack however it is also a hard reality check for them. We had a serious gang fight in a school where I used to work and one kid chased another through the lunch room with a baseball bat which ended up with 6 HS kids in cuffs and involved and a 7th almost bleeding to death on the lunchroom floor in front of 400 other students. It was a very crazy day but the violence occurrences in that school dropped to non-existant after that. Once the kids saw, first hand, how ugly it can get, they stopped fighting altogether. There were over 1200 kids in that school and they had no more fights for almost 2 years. It was sad to see how it had to go that far for it to sink in, but they got it.
November 11, 2008
5:08 p.m.
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watcher1 writes:
The United Socialist States of America depends on violence. It thrives on it. Whether TV show, movie, video game, or Washington's wars, it's what moves the money.
Violence is America's greatest strength.
November 11, 2008
6:14 p.m.
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keepbreathing5852 writes:
I am appalled at many (though not all, but many) of the comments I read here on this board. I went to that school just last year. I grew up in that town. I know the girl. She deserves a whole lot more compassion and concern than she is receiving in many of these comments. I realize that it may be difficult for you to relate if you have never experienced such an occurrence or if you feel disconnected because you aren't from Montrose- I get it. But let me say this- if you don't or can't relate on an emotional/personal level, please do not prove so here. If you want to make political or joking or otherwise inappropriate comments, fine- but for the love of God, do it somewhere ELSE in the privacy of your conversations. Seriously people.
And for those of you that share these sentiments and continue to express your sympathies or have already done so, thank you. Thank you so much. It's nice to know that not all is lost.
November 11, 2008
6:47 p.m.
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SierraStorm writes:
The new youth of the day and as commissioned by the Columbine duo, are and will be getting more brazen in the near future. Just hope that we do not go into a serious depression which will be cause for more, perhaps much more disastrous acts of violence that will permeate beyond the school zone and morality of America.
November 11, 2008
7:38 p.m.
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winterflower writes:
realifeTauren and rickylee- Break it up and cut it out! Think of the girl and her family, the perpetrator and his family, not your own political agenda and the desire you seem to have to prove yourself.
toocool- you're calling someone who slashed someone else a "troubled brat" of all the insensitivity!
NeilT- it isn't just the parents!!!!
UNV_me- what does Gilpinman's political view have to do with any of this?
Keith0907- why the heck are you talking about barack obama's kids instead of offering sympathy to a seventeen year old girl who had her throat slashed!!!
ladybird112- That kid was 14! Now for the rest of his life he will have to live with what he has done.
MeAgain- do you really think that seeing kids die or be hurt is the way to teach children to be good?
Watcher1- I am appalled! Why don't you get off your comfortable padded derrière and look at the rest of the world. at least we don't stone woman to death for being rapped, at least we let girls go to school! at least we aren't all starving or being killed for trying to vote! Shape up and learn your history! At least you're aloud to diss this country without being dragged off in the middle of the night! You.... Have..... No..... Idea..... what the world is actually like.....
I am sorry if I offended you Watcher one, "I disagree with what you have to say but I will defend to the death your right to say it!"
To Mallory Haulman and her family, I am praying for your safe recovery I hope you get better soon!
November 11, 2008
7:47 p.m.
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PastaBender writes:
Boy, I'm with you on this ... get these sharp weapons out of society ... doctors need to turn in their scalpels and operate with two by fours ... much safer for humanity ...
November 11, 2008
7:56 p.m.
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Dynamicdave writes:
My sincere thoughts and prayers are with this young girl and her family. This 14 year old youth will more then likely do juvenile detention till he is 18, then get released. Lets hope in this time, that he gets some type of counseling to correct his depression? Otherwise, they will be releasing a spiteful, still mentally short, violent, 18 year old, upon the world. The parents of this youth always come to mind, as well? We'll need to wait to hear more then what we have, as to the 14 year olds "upbringing". Was he neglected? Was he abused? Was he expelled and roaming free? Was he acting normal at a "normal", average family home, then misbehaving, while away. No way to know so we'll just have to wait and see.
November 11, 2008
8:11 p.m.
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keith0907 writes:
Why are you people obsessing? There will always be kooks among us, no matter what we do. Just pray you're not next to them when they go off. If you are, you just won the reverse lottery. End of subject.
November 11, 2008
8:54 p.m.
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montanarose writes:
Pithaughn: what is this absolute CRAP about "both kids [being] victims"? As far as I can tell, one kid had her throat slit (this would be the victim) and the other kid did the slitting (this would be what we call a criminal, a perpetrator, a sociopath, etc.). No, there are not two victims in this case; the two parties are not morally equivalent by any stretch of your liberal imagination.
November 11, 2008
11:34 p.m.
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LadyBird112 writes:
Well I was going to say pretty much the same thing to winterflower, but montanarose took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you for being smart montana.
November 11, 2008
11:40 p.m.
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Sundog writes:
Please, let's be politically correct. There are no perps, only victims. You and I are victims to read about this, and Obama is a victim because we should not think about any peripheral implications. To do so would be to shuck our victimhood and be unpersons. Stay alive, stay in the center of the politically correct whirlpool. Stay a victim. Thank you for your cooperation.
November 11, 2008
11:51 p.m.
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snuffalupagus writes:
Well, since the little "F"r is only 14, his name is not mentioned, but I'm sure he'll strike again if put back on the streets. He's a juvenille, but he needs to be locked up for the rest of his unnatural life.
November 12, 2008
12:37 a.m.
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angryman1n writes:
Ricky... I can define an automatic weapon. Pull the trigger, and bullets will fly downrange as long as you don't let go. A knife by that definition is not even on the same continent. Knife one slash = one wound, but a slash takes several seconds.
Banning knives over this is ridiculous, not to mention totally unenforceable. Knives are essential tools for everyday life.
(They are already banned in schools.)
November 12, 2008
2:07 a.m.
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sac621 writes:
Yay,,Montana, you tell 'em
November 12, 2008
2:10 a.m.
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sac621 writes:
angryman,
killing is killing ,violence is violence.
The point is:
PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE, NOT GUNS...NOT KNIVES,CLUBS, BATS ...WHATEVER.
November 12, 2008
3:31 a.m.
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expetrbiltdrvr writes:
Not all people are victims either. This political correctness has gone way too far. I am not a mean spirited person but people need to be held accountable for their actions and take responsibility for the things they do to others. There was only one victim in this story, and it was not the 14 year old child that slashed that young womans throat. I am deeply ashamed at our society for her. I pray that she recovers and eventually forgives this young man for what he has done to her,but at the same time he needs to suffer the consequences of his actions and not be labeled a victim. We are not all victims. We do not need the Goverment taking care of us. Americans should stop being the victim and stand on our own two feet. The more we let the govt take care of us, the more the govt will control us. Remember the book "1984"
November 12, 2008
6:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
ghostrider76613 writes:
America stay vigilant.
Be aware of your surroundings and current events, together we can control the evil in the world.
Remember we are the government.
Vote and stay informed. This is what intelligent people do. Together we can stop the violence.
November 12, 2008
7:37 a.m.
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davehughes writes:
The only thing of social significance in this incident is the answer to the questions about the boy and his background. Why does he say (he will, in time) say he did it - his motive. Why is he described as not a student? A drop out at 14 from that school? Expelled from it?
And I would learn a lot more about him if I knew what kind of family or lack of family he came from. Why is he described as a 'troubled' teen? (there are such in society no matter how well parents try to bring them up. Others are a product of bad or neglectful bringing up) Reputation for drug use? He will be tested by police.
Why did he choose to do this in front of a large group of other students in the hallways, knowing that some boys could have gone after him, knife or no? I have a hunch, like many other school age attackers over the last 15 years, he wanted '15 minutes of television fame.'
Why not? Any kid in the country over 10 years old knows that the more outrageous the commission of crime, the greater the publicity on television. And this 'television, U-tube, RMN Blogging' generation knows they are not important unless they are on one or more of these media.
November 12, 2008
8:10 a.m.
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Heidi writes:
expetrbiltdrvr,
I agree with you. The 14 year old may have been a victim at one time. But once he committed this horrendous act, he is no longer a victim.
November 12, 2008
9:26 a.m.
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T1anda writes:
A sad commentary about violence in today's society!
8 year olds shooting people,14 year olds knifing people and on it goes!
Get well soon young lady! And continue down your road of excellence. Don't let violence win..charge ahead!!!!
November 12, 2008
12:01 p.m.
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NeilT writes:
winterflower writes: "NeilT- it isn't just the parents!!!!"
Since you took the time to thoughtfully address every post, I'll have to respectfully disagree.
If my daughter killed, or attempted to kill, another human being, I'd feel responsible for the act. I would feel that I failed as a parent, not only to my child, but to our community in not properly raising my child.
Teachers, friends and extended family of kids that commit these crimes usually say something like, "But little Johnny was such a good kid, he is the last one that would do something like this." That's fine, but it is the parents responsibility to know, really KNOW, their child. These kids always show signs and give at least hints to their state of mind.
It is the job of the parent to stop being selfish and find the time to recognize these signals, accept them and then act upon them. We all know what can happen when parents fail.
This 14-year-old was a victim, just like the rest of the school shooters and the like. Eric Harris was making hate videos, blogging about his feelings, building bombs and modifying guns all under his parents roof. He was a victim of his parents neglect. They were the only victim until they decided to pull somebody else into their messed-up world. They had to share their pain. Now they must pay for it, as should the parents.