Middle school student threatens another with knife

WASILLA -- Wasilla police and Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District officials are investigating a Friday incident in which a Wasilla Middle School student allegedly put a knife to another student's throat and threatened to cut him.

The confrontation occurred at 11 a.m. during lunch break outside the school, according to the boy who said he was attacked. He was rattled but not physically harmed.

"I was really scared," the 12-year-old boy said. "He held me down with the knife at my neck and said 'Tell your friends to get away or I'm going to stab you.'"

He described the weapon as a Leatherman. The alleged victim said he saw the other boy take it out of his pocket and slide it inside a shirt sleeve.

The mother of the alleged victim said she got a call from the school telling her what happened between the two sixth-graders.

"I was freaked out," she said. "I went and picked him up early."

The woman said Wasilla police officer Rick Manrique told her assault charges would be filed with juvenile authorities. Manrique was not available for confirmation late Friday.

The boy who was allegedly attacked said he had gotten into an argument with a different boy on Thursday. At that time, he said, the boy who attacked him Friday had held his arms and urged a friend to punch him.

George Troxel, school district assistant superintendent, said he could not comment on a specific case under investigation. However, he said district administrators are "real consistent in the way they treat violent acts when a weapon is involved."

A student first is placed on out-of-school suspension for up to 10 days while the situation is investigated, he said. If punishment is warranted, it can range from short-term suspension to expulsion, Troxel said.

The degree of punishment depends on what weapon was used, why a student had it on school grounds and other factors, he said.