Turlock High stabbing suspect has first court hearing. Police address bullying rumors
The Turlock High School student arrested last week on suspicion of stabbing another student had his first court hearing Tuesday, and Turlock Police addressed rumors of bullying.
The boy, whose name is being withheld by The Bee because he is a juvenile, appeared remotely from juvenile hall.
He is charged with attempted murder and three enhancements, which were not read in court. The boy, a senior at Turlock High, is accused of repeatedly stabbing another student during a passing period at the high school on Friday morning.
Psychology teacher Ryan Tribble intervened, placing his hands on the boy’s shoulders and talking to him to keep him calm until a school resource officer got to the scene and detained him.
The victim made his way to the school nurse and was later flown to a Modesto hospital for treatment. Turlock Police Sgt. Mike Parmley said Tuesday the victim remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Rumors were circulating on social media over the weekend that the suspect had been bullied by the victim but Parmley said Tuesday, “At this point in the investigation, there is no indication there was bullying between either student.”
He said a motive remains unknown.
The suspect’s mother also attended the hearing via video conference on Tuesday and expressed concern she hadn’t been contacted by anyone regarding her son’s case. She told Judge Rubén Villalobos she’d never been in this position and didn’t know what to expect or if she should even be talking during her son’s hearing.
Villalobos told her this was her son’s first hearing and that nothing had happened in his case prior to it. He appointed a public defender to represent the minor and told his mother to contact that attorney after the hearing.
Villalobos said the minor was being seen by mental health professionals in juvenile hall. He continued his formal arraignment to next week.
Deputy District Attorney John Appleby said his office has not yet made a decision about whether they will seek to have the minor tried as an adult.
Villalobos ordered the defendant remain detained and not released to the custody of his mother at this time.
At the end of the hearing the boy’s mother said to him, “Bye, honey; I love you” and he responded in kind.
He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 16.
This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 10:59 AM.
