FORT LEE, N.J. — A second 16-year-old student has been charged in connection with the April 8 stabbing of a male student at Fort Lee High School, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced Thursday.
The student was taken into protective custody on May 2 and charged with multiple juvenile delinquency offenses, including first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and several weapons-related charges. The arrest follows a continuing investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Fort Lee Police Department.
The incident occurred in a school restroom, where the initial suspect allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times during an altercation. The injured student was treated at the scene by school security and first responders before being transported to a hospital. The victim survived.
The first suspect, also a 16-year-old male student, was apprehended at the scene and charged the same day. Investigators later determined that the newly charged student had been involved in planning and executing the attack.
“After charges were filed against the suspect, detectives continued their investigation and determined that an additional student was involved in the planning and execution of the incident,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Second suspect charged in coordinated school attack
The second juvenile now faces charges that include third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, in addition to the more serious counts.
The school was placed on lockdown during the April 8 incident, which prompted a multi-agency police response. Authorities have not released the names of the suspects due to their age.
The investigation remains active under the supervision of Chief Matthew Finck of the Prosecutor’s Office and Chief Matthew Hintze of the Fort Lee Police Department.
Officials have not disclosed a motive for the stabbing, and it is unclear whether additional charges will be filed.