Stabbing at Foss High School in Tacoma leaves 6 injured

Five Tacoma high school students and an adult security guard were injured in a stabbing Thursday afternoon during an altercation" at Foss High School, police said.

All six were hospitalized and were in stable condition around 4 p.m., according to Tacoma Fire Department spokesperson Chelsea Shepherd.

Four of the students were seriously injured, according to Tacoma police spokesperson Officer Shelbie Boyd. The fifth student, who is suspected of attacking the others, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and is in police custody. The guard also had minor injuries.

Boyd said she had "pretty limited information" to share about the stabbing shortly before 2:30 p.m., but said the "scene is safe."

Someone called 911 shortly after 1:30 p.m. to report "possible stabbings" at the school, where firefighters found the six people injured, Shepherd said. The school went into lockdown at 1:38 p.m., Tacoma Public Schools spokesperson Tanisha Jumper said in a news release.

Firefighters searched the school for additional victims but did not find any, Shepherd said.

After the scene was secured, students were released to be picked up at 2:45 p.m., Jumper said.

"We are grateful for the quick, calm action of our staff and our first responders," Jumper said in the news release.

School and after-school activities are canceled Friday at Foss due to an incident "involving students and staff, according to an alert on the school's website. Foss will reopen Monday, with counselors and additional administrative staff there to support students and employees, the alert states.

Foss, in central Tacoma, has about 550 students and 33 teachers.

In 2007, an 18-year-old Foss High School student shot and killed his classmate, 17-year-old Samnang Kok, before the start of classes in a school hallway. The shooter, Douglas Chanthabouly, was convicted in 2009 of second-degree murder and sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Seattle Times staff reporter Lauren Girgis contributed to this story.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 5:05 PM.