FITCHBURG  — On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, Fitchburg police officers responded to an emergency at Goodrich Academy following a report of a violent altercation between two students.
At approximately 1:59 p.m., officers arrived at the school, where they found a student with non-life-threatening injuries from a stabbing. The injured student received treatment on-site before being transported to a local hospital for further care, the Fitchburg Public Schools announced in a statement which contained a press release from the Fitchburg Police Department.
In response to the incident, the school was placed on lockdown at approximately 2:00 p.m. to secure the safety of students and staff while police assessed the situation. Families of the students involved were immediately notified, Fitchburg Public Schools Superintendent Jonathan Thompson said in the statement.
At around 2:45 p.m., after confirming there was no ongoing threat, the lockdown was lifted, and students were dismissed early for the day. School is going to resume normally for the remainder of the week.
Fitchburg police detained a 15-year-old suspect on the scene, charging him/her with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was targeted, with no ongoing threat to other students, the Fitchburg Police Department said in its statement.
Goodrich Academy has taken several measures to support students and staff in the aftermath of the lockdown. Additional counselors and therapy pets will be available throughout the week, with special group sessions on Friday, November 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., led by counselors from Riverside Trauma Center. To further support students, additional school staff and a Fitchburg Police Department officer will be present on campus for the remainder of the week and beyond.
The Fitchburg Police Department, in collaboration with Fitchburg Public Schools, is continuing the investigation to ensure the security of the school community, the statement said.
