Suspect in Fatal School Stabbing First Tried to Grab 2 Girls

He then killed one of them, police say
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 21, 2022 1:35 AM CDT
Suspect in Fatal School Stabbing First Tried to Grab 2 Girls
San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar speaks at a press conference on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at the DA's office in downtown Stockton, Calif.   (Clifford Oto/The Record via AP)

The man who allegedly fatally stabbed a 15-year-old girl at a California high school drove into the school's parking lot and tried to grab two girls before stabbing one of them, a school official said, per the AP. Anthony Gray, 52, pulled into a parking lot at a Stockton high school Monday and tried to grab the two students before fatally stabbing Alycia Reynaga, Stockton Unified spokesperson Melinda Meza told the Stockton Record. Gray was arraigned Wednesday on murder and other charges and denied bail. San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar told reporters after Gray's arraignment that he faced the possibility of life without parole.

“As a mother, this seemingly random act of violence is devastating,” she said and sent her condolences to the family. Alycia was stabbed several times at about 11am Monday at Stagg High School and was taken to a hospital, where she died, Stockton Unified School District Superintendent John Ramirez Jr. said. A school officer detained Gray, police said. Officials have not determined a motive for the killing. Meza said there is no known connection between Gray and the girl, a freshman who played softball for the high school. “I’ll always have that empty space in my heart,” Lia Medrazo, Stagg High School softball coach told KOVR-TV. “The girls are going to miss her, and I hope her sister comes back and wants to play for her.”

(More California stories.)

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