A 16-year-old West Des Moines student was arrested and charged after he allegedly assaulted a fellow student with scissors at Walnut Creek Campus.
The West Des Moines Police Department was dispatched to the alternative high school, 1020 Eighth St., for a report of an assault with a weapon shortly before noon Tuesday, May 20, according to a news release from spokesperson Sgt. Anthony Danti.
Officers found a juvenile victim who was suffering from non-life threatening injuries, the news release said. The 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody and charged with willful injury causing bodily injury, going armed with intent and possession of a controlled substance, the news release said.
The suspect had allegedly used a pair of scissors to attack the student, Danti said. In a statement obtained by KCCI, Principal Kim Davis said the attack stemmed from a verbal altercation among several students.
“Trained school staff intervened to stop the attack and West Des Moines Police quickly arrived on the scene to assist with the situation,” Davis said in a message to Walnut Creek parents. “The incident took place at approximately 11:45 a.m. The school entered a ‘shelter in place’ status until approximately 12:20 p.m.”
The 16-year-old was transported to Polk County Juvenile Detention, according to the news release. Police believe it was a isolated incident and there is no ongoing danger to the public.
West Des Moines police were still investigating what led to the assault.
José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com or follow him on X @mendiola_news.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Assault with scissors reported at West Des Moines school, teen charged