LAYTON, Utah — A Layton high school student was stabbed Tuesday afternoon, and the school was placed on “lockout” after the suspect fled.

It was a normal day for most students like Jacob Thomas, a junior at Layton High School, until rumors of a fight started to spread.

“I was in Spanish class, and all I heard was someone got stabbed,” Thomas said. “Over the PA system, it came out there was going to be a lockout. No one was allowed in or out.”

He said the lockout lasted about 30-to-40 minutes.

Turns out, a fight happened right across the street from the school at Layton Commons Park involving several Layton High students. The students decided to meet up during their lunch break to sort out a disagreement.

“Several of them have actually been fighting. We don’t know how many yet. There are a lot of kids to talk to and sort out,” said Lt. Travis Lyman with Layton police.

Layton Police are investigating a stabbing in a park across from Layton High School. Please say there was a fight between a group of students, particularly two students. One stabbed the other with pruning shears. Victim is stable. pic.twitter.com/t2o4J3sl86

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) September 20, 2022

Police said two of the students were really going at each other, and at one point, one of those students pulled out pruning shears and stabbed the student in the chest.

“It definitely does escalate this situation, yeah. We’ve seen this forever,” Lyman said. “High school kids tend to have these disagreements, and sometimes it turns into a fist fight, but this is definitely an escalation that we hate to see.”

Lyman said the 15-year-old student was transported to McKay Dee Hospital in stable condition. The suspect, who Lyman confirmed was a 16-year-old boy, fled.

Along with Layton High School, Central Davis Junior High and Crestview Elementary were also on lockout protocol, as police tried to figure out what was going on.

At first, they didn’t know if it involved students or what exactly happened.

Soon after, they took the 16-year-old student into custody for the stabbing at his apartment. The victim who was stabbed was stable at a local hospital and expected to be okay.

For Thomas, even though he doesn’t know the student who was stabbed, he’s just glad, he’ll be okay.

“I’m glad to hear he’s in stable condition and everything,” Thomas said.

Layton High School sent this email to their school’s parents and guardians:

Dear parents and guardians,

Our school was placed in lockout shortly before 1 p.m. today after the Layton City Police Department received a report of an altercation that reportedly occurred at a nearby park. The lockout has now been lifted.

During a lockout, the outside doors to the school remain locked while classes continue as normal.

We appreciate Layton City Police for their outstanding efforts to help us keep our school safe.

Thank you,

Brock Jackman

Principal

Layton High School