Student stabbed during cafeteria fight at Cobb County middle school, officials say

MARIETTA, Ga. - A fight at a Cobb County middle school injured two girls and prompted by a district and criminal investigation.

It happened Tuesday in the cafeteria at J.J. Daniell Middle School located along Scott Road.

School officials confirm there was an altercation which led one student to stab another girl with a pocket knife.

First responders arrived at the scene shortly after the stabbing.

Many students witnessed the violence and quickly texted parents and guardians, as well as posted about it on social media.

"I looked at them, knowing I knew both of them, and then I ran," said student Lainey Taylor. "So, like some people that was there actually got blood on them."

"I called her and she was very, I mean, very distraught. I told her everything was going to be fine, I checked to make sure that they had the classroom doors locked, and you know, just got as much information as I could from her, and just reassured her that she was going to be OK," said her father, Hylan Taylor.

Taylor and other parents raced to the school to pick up their children early. 

One mom who took her daughter home after hearing about the altercation says she worries about the safety of her child and the other children at the school. 

"I think Cobb County needs to look really hard at how they're handling the discipline in the schools and how they will continue to provide safety for the rest of the students," the woman said.

J.J. Daniell Middle School  (FOX 5)

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Principal Amy Stump wrote:

"Earlier today, one of our students made a terrible choice during an altercation with another student. The student attacked another student and caused injury to both the victim and themselves. 

"The incident occurred during lunch, and Emergency Services responded immediately. Our students and staff are safe. 

"This situation is being handled according to state law and district policies, including discipline and criminal charges. Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff, and incidents like this remind us that we must be constantly vigilant.

"This kind of event can cause anxiety and fear in students and adults alike. If you feel that your child would benefit from talking with one of our school counselors, please reach out to your child’s counselor and share with us what you need. If your student needs more immediate assistance, please call our front office and let us know.

"We encourage students, staff, and parents to visit http://www.cobbshield.com to see what Cobb Schools is doing to keep Daniell Middle School safe, and feel free to report any safety concerns to the District’s Tipline via call, text, or email."

The school told parents it was following the district policies on such matters.