Summer Student Fatally Stabbed at Burbank High

A 17-year-old Burbank High School summer school student was stabbed to death Friday after an argument with another student, authorities said.

Police arrested a 16-year-old student in the attack, but declined to identify him because he is a juvenile.

Burbank Police Sgt. Ron Caruso said officers found the wounded teenager in the school parking lot, bleeding badly, when they responded to a 12:34 p.m. report of an assault with a deadly weapon at the campus, located in the 900 block of North 3rd Street.

Paramedics tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate the boy, whose identity was not immediately available. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Providence-St. Joseph Medical Center.

“At this point, there is no indication that this is gang-related,” Caruso said. “We are investigating a possible argument that escalated to a stabbing.”

Both teenagers were full-time students at Burbank’s John Burroughs High School, but were attending summer school at Burbank High, police said.

One city official said the dispute apparently started in a class, appeared to have ended, and suddenly exploded when classes let out at 12:25 p.m.

“Somebody--I assume it was the teacher--got them calmed down and it seemed to be over,” the official said. “After class, as they were leaving, the assailant took out a knife, hit the kid three times in the chest, and punctured his aorta.”

Burbank Police Chief Dave Newsham called the attack a random act and said it could not have been prevented. He said a police officer was on the campus when the stabbing occurred.

“I think this kind of thing can happen no matter what,” Newsham said.

Officers recovered a knife from the scene, and the suspect was expected to be transferred to juvenile hall, he said.

Summer school Principal Emilio Urioste declined to identify the victim, but said he had planned to enter his senior year in the fall.

“He was a good kid,” said Urioste, adding that he had taught the boy in a Spanish class two years ago. “Things were going well. And now this. It’s just left me numb.”

City officials were also stunned.

“Someone brings a knife or a gun to school, you can’t stop that kind of thing. It seems to be getting worse,” Burbank Councilman Ted McConkey said. “After the police and school officials determine what happened and how it happened, the council, I’m sure, will cooperate with any additional measures, including funds for additional police personnel if necessary.”