“It’s a little scary because you know, you want the kids’ safety, right? You don’t know who’s in the building. It was early afternoon, but there was a lot of activity going on,” coach Wade Austin told MTN News Wednesday morning.
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Witnesses describe the scene inside Billings Sr.’s home after the stabbing.
The incident occurred at 4:23 pm and involved a male mathematics teacher who was stabbed by a female student in his classroom on the third floor.
Austin was among several people inside the building when the incident occurred, as the Bronx were hosting Billings West in a crosstown dual.
“We didn’t know if anyone was hurt,” Austin said. “We didn’t know there was anything going on in the building.”
Austin said the gym was functioning normally, mats were installed and athletes were preparing to compete. The matches were scheduled to start at 5 pm
“Somebody came into the gym and said we’re on lockdown,” Austin said. “Nobody knows why or anything like that.”
Eventually, the matches were delayed and eventually cancelled. As word spread, law enforcement and first responders lined up on Grand Avenue.
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An orchestra concert was also canceled, and many students were in classes around the school preparing for finals, which are scheduled for this week. Within minutes the safety exercise became a reality.
“I thought the faculty did a great job of shutting things down and getting people out of the hallways or giving them space in classrooms,” Austin said. “Like Driver’s Ed was right down the hall, and they were in a classroom. Once they identified where people were they were doing it in multiple locations.”
Details regarding the incident are limited, as MTN awaits confirmation from Billings Police and school district officials as to what happened. On Wednesday afternoon, Superintendent Erwin Garcia said both the student and teacher should be OK.
“I care about the well-being of both individuals in this situation,” Garcia said.
Garcia confirmed that the teacher involved was a male math teacher and that he was stabbed on the third floor in his classroom after regular school hours. The district is not confirming whether the 18-year-old student accused of assault was their student. There are no cameras inside the classrooms in Senior High.
According to several parents, after the stabbing the teacher ran out of his classroom and down the hall to another classroom, which was filled with students.
Garcia said police are still investigating how and why it happened.
“I am not aware of any relationship beyond that of teacher and student,” Garcia said. “The investigation will shed more light. My message to that teacher is to focus on his recovery. I know this teacher has a family and people who care about him.”
Billings Police told MTN that more information will be made public as the investigation progresses.
It is an event that will leave a lasting impression on both those involved as well as the students and staff. Austin said providing support will be important.
“There’s nothing we can do to change the situation,” Austin said. “But we can definitely help them through the mental part of it.”
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