By Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG — A 17-year-old Lakewood High student was stabbed as he walked home from the second day of school Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The unidentified student returned to school to call for help, prompting a temporary lockdown at the school. The injured student was taken to Bayfront Medical Center with unknown injuries, police said.
The incident was reported at 12:56 p.m. It was an early-release day, so classes let out at 12:15 p.m. The victim and his cousin, also a Lakewood student, were walking near the benches of Vista Park at 1401 62nd Ave. S when they encountered a man acting hostile.
Police described the attacker as a black man about 18 years old, 5 feet 7, 150 pounds and wearing a white shirt, dark pants or jeans, and riding a BMX bicycle. The attacker apparently had a "beef" with the victim, a police spokesman said. They exchanged words, and their feud escalated.
Details are sketchy, but the other man pulled a knife and stabbed the student in his left side.
The victim and his cousin returned to the school at 1400 54th Ave. S to call for help. The student was taken to Bayfront, and the lockdown was lifted.
Authorities do not think the attacker is a student at the school.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call (727) 893-7780. Anonymous tipsters can call (727) 892-5000 or send a text to (727) 420-8911.
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