Atwater special needs student stabbed several times, official says

ATWATER, Calif. (KFSN) -- Students at a North Valley high school are in shock after a special needs student is stabbed by a classmate on campus. The Atwater High School victim is now out of the hospital, while the suspect is in juvenile detention.

Police are calling it a deliberate attack.

"That made me mad. That's disrespectful. He was a special needs kid, he couldn't do anything for himself," said Kaylin Riggle, AHS Student.

That student-- stabbed in the back by his classmate before the suspect ran off campus. He was quickly arrested and police say they found a knife he ditched, but they still don't have a motive.

"Oh my lord-- I was wanting to cry. And the first thought was get my child home to safety," said Lolly Guerra, AHS parent .

Parents had the option of picking their kids up after getting an automated phone call about the attack. Guerra said it's the third time she's been called this year about an incident at or near the school.

"I don't feel my child is safe anymore. Because it's not the first recording I've received."

But school officials were quick to say this type of crime never happens here.

"We don't have many incidents like this at any of our Merced County campuses. So when this happens we take them very seriously," said Nathan Quevedo, Merced County Office of Education.

Officials said a lockdown wasn't necessary because they were able to catch the suspect quickly after the crime.

The suspect is in jail on an assault charge but that could change if the district attorney decides to charge him with attempted murder.

School officials said they don't know yet if he faces expulsion or suspension at this point.