The potential for violence in Lea County schools is a topic of concern for many area folks. Most reason that the issue will never confront their own schools. The problem will always be somewhere else. On Thursday, February 29, at approximately 1:39 pm, the reality of school violence came to Hobbs. Officers from the Hobbs Police Department (HPD) were called to Hobbs Freshman High School (HFHS) in reference to a stabbing of a juvenile.
On the Hobbs Municipal Schools (HMS) Facebook page District superintendent Gene Strickland states that HFHS was placed in an alert “Secure then Hold in response to a student altercation involving two students as a HMS protocol measure.”
After investigation, HPD officers learned that a fight had broken out in the boys’ locker room of HFHS. A City of Hobbs press release (PDF) states, “A teacher heard the fight start and, along with other students, attempted to break them up. During the fight it was discovered that one of the juveniles involved had been stabbed. The injured juvenile was flown to an Odessa area hospital for further treatment.” According to superintendent Strickland, “… a pocket knife was used in the course of the altercation.”
As of the time of this posting, the Lea County Tribune has no further information about the injured juvenile who was airlifted to a hospital in the Odessa, Texas area.
The juvenile suspected of the stabbing has been arrested and is being held in the Lea County Juvenile Detention Center. The arrested juvenile has been charged with Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon (Third Degree Felony) and Unlawful Carrying of a Deadly Weapon on School Premises (Fourth Degree Felony).
HPD reminds the public that the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to report his or her insight to the HPD by calling dispatch at (575) 397-9265 or by contacting Lea County Crime Stoppers at (575) 393-8005. A cash reward may be available for such information. The public may also privately message HPD on Facebook with information about this incident. Please be aware that the HPD’s Facebook page is not monitored in real time and should not be used to report ”real-time” crime.
Superintendent Strickland asks the public to refrain from sharing false information about the incident at HFHS on social media. Strickland states that such action “…creates false alarm in the public and hinders investigative efforts.” Strickland, additionally, reminds the public that the school district takes all reports of violence seriously and follows up with each of these reports.
