UPPER GWYNEDD — Police have shared more details from their initial investigation into Wednesday’s attack at Pennbrook Middle School, which led to one student being hospitalized with head injuries.
According to Upper Gwynedd Police Chief David Duffy, the attack happened in the school cafeteria at 1:20 p.m. It involved a 13-year-old attacker and a 12-year-old victim, according to the police.
“Video shows a sudden, violent, unprovoked attack with the attacker approaching the victim from behind,” Duffy explained.
Investigators confirmed that the attacker hit the victim in the head with a Stanley tumbler, causing a head wound. The victim was taken from the scene by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment.
In a message on Wednesday evening, Duffy mentioned that the victim needed staples to close cuts on their head, and is currently following a concussion protocol.
After the attack, Pennbrook Principal Nick Taylor emailed parents to inform them about the incident. The email, obtained by North Penn Now, informed parents that the school was put on an eight-minute hold due to the incident.
“School security and staff were present and reacted quickly, and are praised for their swift actions,” Taylor said in the email. “Police and emergency medical responders were also immediately called and arrived at the scene.”
Multiple sources within the district informed North Penn Now that the attacker had been previously expelled from another district middle school — supposedly due to violence and inappropriate behavior. In an email to families on Wednesday night, North Penn Superintendent Todd Bauer denied that the student had been previously expelled from school.
“Some have suggested that the student was expelled from another NPSD middle school for violent in-school behavior and transferred to Pennbrook. It has also been reported that the student was expelled from another school for violent behavior,” Bauer stated. “Both of these claims are untrue. I have also been in contact with this family and acknowl