A routine Monday afternoon at William H. Taft High School in the Bronx erupted into violence when a 15-year-old student was allegedly slashed by another student inside the building, police said.
The attack happened around 12:50 p.m. on April 13, 2026, inside the East 172nd Street campus, according to the NYPD. Officers responded to the scene and detained a male student at the school, and authorities said charges were pending.
What police say
Officers were called to the high school shortly before 1 p.m., where they found a 15-year-old student who had been slashed, according to PIX11. The outlet reported that a male student was taken into custody on site while detectives continued to interview witnesses and review what happened inside the building.
PIX11 noted that charges were still pending as of Monday afternoon and that investigators had not publicly disclosed information about a possible motive or the type of weapon involved. A spokesperson for New York City public schools could not be reached for comment, the station reported.
Citywide context
The incident arrives during a school year in which weapons on campus have repeatedly unsettled families and fueled debates about how safe city schools really are. Knife and weapon incidents in New York City schools have surfaced sporadically, prompting fresh scrutiny of screening measures and school safety staffing.
Fox 5 has documented earlier slashing cases in Bronx schools, coverage that highlighted parents calling for clearer safety plans and more visible security. Those prior episodes often led to an increased on site presence of school safety personnel at the affected campuses, according to reporting.
Investigation
Detectives remained at William H. Taft High School after Monday’s attack as they continued to gather details from students and staff. The NYPD said the investigation is ongoing and that charges against the student taken into custody were still pending, PIX11 reported.
