A 16-year-old Charlestown boy is being referred to Rhode Island Family Court on a simple assault charge after a classmate says he was stabbed with a metal tool during a welding class at Chariho High School in Richmond. The victim, a 15-year-old sophomore named Glenn, says a classmate asked whether he could stab him with a center punch, a tool used to mark metal before drilling, and did so after Glenn repeatedly said no.
Richmond Police reported the family court referral, according to WJAR, which first reported on the incident last Friday. Glenn sustained a bleeding puncture wound to his shoulder and went to the school nurse, where he says he learned that two other classmates had also been stabbed during the same class period, bringing the total number of reported incidents to three. Police have not specified whether the referral covers just one of those incidents or all three.
The stabbing happened during a welding class at Chariho High School in Richmond.
A Communication Gap Between School and Home
Glenn's mother, Tiffany, said the school told her that her son had a puncture wound but initially did not explain how it happened. Glenn went to the school nurse, and the wound was later cleaned. The school called Tiffany around 10:30 a.m. on the day of the incident, but she says she only learned the fuller account of what allegedly occurred after Glenn came home from school that day. Chariho Public Schools did not respond to WJAR's multiple inquiries about the incident.
That silence has continued even as the case has moved through the legal process. Chariho district leadership has remained unresponsive to media inquiries, leaving open questions about shop-class safety protocols and any administrative disciplinary action, according to reporting from Cedar News.
Relief, But Still Questions, From the Victim's Family
Following news of the juvenile court referral, Glenn's mother expressed relief that “Glen's getting his justice,” Cedar News reported, while continuing to demand explanations from school administrators about how the incident was handled. She also addressed claims circulating online that suggested the 16-year-old suspect had previously been bullied, stating that her son denied ever bullying anyone.
Richmond Police Chief said there was no imminent threat to public safety when NBC 10 reported on the incident last Friday. The chief's statement did not resolve the family's broader concerns about how the school communicated with parents in the incident's immediate aftermath.
The Simple Assault Charge
Although a metal tool was used to cause a bleeding puncture wound, the case was filed as simple assault. Rhode Island General Laws § 11-5-2 classifies assault or battery committed with a dangerous weapon or resulting in serious bodily injury as a felony punishable by up to 20 years in state prison, according to The Law Office of Chad F Bank.
Because the accused is a minor, the matter falls under the jurisdiction of Rhode Island's Family Court system. Juveniles are typically handled in Family Court, which prioritizes rehabilitation and may offer counseling or education programs, according to the Law Office of Melissa Larsen. The most serious cases may be waived to Superior Court.
The Chariho District
The incident involved a Charlestown resident and took place at Chariho High School in Richmond.
The district is overseen by a 12-member regional school committee, according to Ballotpedia.
