Girl, 11, stabs boy, 12, inside NYC middle school

Incident occurred minutes before pepper spray attack at another Bronx school

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An 11-year-old girl allegedly stabbed a 12-year-old boy in the left arm with a kitchen knife inside IS 218 middle school in the Bronx on Monday morning. In an unrelated incident, an 11-year-old student released pepper spray in the cafeteria of JHS 217 middle school in Queens, sending two 12-year-old students to the hospital.

Why it matters

These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about violence and safety in New York City public schools, which have faced challenges with limited security resources and measures to prevent such altercations between students.

The details

The girl allegedly stabbed the boy minutes after 11 a.m. inside IS 218 on Gerard Avenue in the Bronx's Concourse neighborhood. The young victim was taken to Lincoln Medical Center in stable condition. The girl was taken into custody. The violence stemmed from a 'past incident' between the two middle schoolers. Meanwhile, in Queens, an 11-year-old student released pepper spray in the cafeteria of JHS 217 on 144th Street in Briarwood around 11:20 a.m., sending two 12-year-old students to the hospital.

  • The Bronx stabbing incident occurred minutes after 11 a.m. on Monday, March 3, 2026.
  • The Queens pepper spray incident occurred around 11:20 a.m. on Monday, March 3, 2026.

The players

IS 218

A middle school located on Gerard Avenue near East 167th Street in the Bronx's Concourse neighborhood.

JHS 217

A middle school located on 144th Street in Briarwood, Queens.

11-year-old girl

The alleged perpetrator of the stabbing incident at IS 218 in the Bronx.

12-year-old boy

The victim of the stabbing incident at IS 218 in the Bronx.

11-year-old student

The alleged perpetrator of the pepper spray incident at JHS 217 in Queens.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges New York City public schools face in maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, with limited security resources and measures to prevent violence between students.