A troubling trend of teen violence continued Tuesday as for the second time in a just over a month, Meadville Police Department is investigating a stabbing involving teenagers. Like a third recent assault involving teens, the latest incident took place in the same public location near Meadville Area Senior High.
An 18-year-old Meadville man was stabbed four times Tuesday afternoon in Shadybrook Park, according to City Manager Maryann Menanno. The man was in stable condition when transported to Meadville Medical Center, she said, but the severity of the stab wounds was unknown.
The incident occurred just before 3 p.m.
A 16-year-old boy was detained by police following the stabbing and later released, Menanno said. No charges had been filed as a result of the incident as of Tuesday evening. The incident remained under investigation.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were charges coming,” Menanno said.
Last month, city police charged 17-year-old Ryan Elverton in the May 13 stabbing of 18-year-old Ravashawn Dixon at Fairview-Fairmont Apartments. Elverton, who was charged as an adult, is awaiting trial on one summary, three misdemeanor and three felony counts in what police described as an assault and robbery that took place in the midst of a drug deal.
Less than a week later, city police charged four youths between 12 and 15 years old in an assault that took place after school in Shadybrook Park. The teens are accused of knocking a 17-year-old boy to the ground, punching and kicking him in what Chief Michael Stefanucci called “a pretty disgusting act.”
“It almost seems like the juveniles in our area are out of control,” Stefanucci said at the time. “I’m growing extremely concerned.”
In another incident in April, a 14-year-old boy was accused of firing four shots at a person who was chasing him on Chula Street after the boy allegedly robbed the person, according to police. Another 14-year-old boy also faces charges in the incident.