Thread: Teen charged in Reno High stabbing case

Teen charged in Reno High stabbing case
By Jaclyn O'Malley • jomalley@rgj.com • September 11, 2010

A 16-year-old remains in the Washoe County jail on a charge he tried to kill a fellow Reno High School student during a hallway stabbing that authorities said is gang motivated.

Alexander Edward Hernandez was booked on suspicion of attempted murder with a deadly weapon/gang enhancement, and was held in lieu of $150,000 bail. Authorities said he is an identified local gang member.

According to court records, the victim was stabbed more than 10 times in the back and neck area with a folding pocket knife. School officials said Friday the victim had been released from the intensive care unit and is expected to make a full recovery.

Hernandez, according to his arrest affidavit, said the victim gave him a "look" that he perceived as a sort of challenge. Hernandez believed the boy was a rival gang member. He then responded to the by stabbing the boy.

Washoe School District Chief of Police Mike Mieras said the hallway stabbing occurred at 12:40 p.m. Thursday. Within seconds, English teacher Stephan Molder walked into the hallway and broke up the altercation, he said. A campus police officer then rushed to the scene.

Molder declined to comment on Friday. He has been a teacher for eight years, according to a Reno High Web page.

Reno High Principal Bob Sullivan praised Molder's actions Friday, saying he is proud of him.

Sullivan said staff members practice a variety of drills every month or more to deal with situations such as Thursday's stabbing.

Mieras and Sullivan said Thursday's gang violence was not a reflection of the school and was an isolated incident. He said school staff and police work hard on gang prevention, education and community awareness.

"I don't foresee any rise in gang activity," Sullivan said. "I have great trust and faith in the students, as well as the parents, that this was one of those unfortunate, isolated incidents."

Mieras said no tips were received about Hernandez's weapon and that no one seemed to know he had it. He said it was an example of how students can use School Secret Witness hot line at 775-329-6666 to make anonymous reports about weapons, drugs and bullying on campus.


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Mieras and Sullivan said Thursday's gang violence was not a reflection of the school and was an isolated incident. He said school staff and police work hard on gang prevention, education and community awareness.

"I don't foresee any rise in gang activity," Sullivan said. "I have great trust and faith in the students, as well as the parents, that this was one of those unfortunate, isolated incidents."

If this incident was in fact isolated and not a reflection of the school ,then why do staff members have "practice a variety of drills every month or more to deal with situations such as Thursday's stabbing?"