Sprayberry High School stabbing: Parents, students react to scary incident

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - A stabbing at Sprayberry High School in Marietta on Tuesday sent one student to the hospital, put another student in handcuffs, and locked down the campus for hours.

The Cobb County School District says the school immediately went into what's called a "code red" after the stabbing and there was an increase in law enforcement until school was dismissed.

Officers with the Cobb County Police Department surrounded the campus.

"I heard yelling and stuff and then two minutes later it was a code red," student Joshua Nesbitt said. 

"Apparently stabbed the kid like eight times, and then he ran and it just all broke loose," student Noah Nesbitt said. 

Joshua and Noah Nesbitt were both inside when the stabbing happened. Their mom Susan Nesbitt says she came as soon as she received an alert from the school.

"I ran here, and they were holding the kids and said everything was fine, but I told them I wasn't leaving here without my kids," Susan Nesbitt said. 

Police and school officials say the student responsible took off but was caught a short time later.

"I saw police pulling up to the building and people running out," Ronald Boykin said. 

Boykin says he saw the suspect moments after the stabbing. 

"I crossed the street with him, and he went to the LA Fitness area, but I didn't know it was him because he was just a person," Boykin said. 

School officials say there was an increase in police presence until dismissal.

Parents and students say the violence hit too close to home.

"Everything that's happening the world is crazy. It's like it's not safe anymore, anywhere," Susan Nesbitt said.

A district representative says the suspect will be held to the strictest legal and disciplinary consequences.

The school sent the following statement:

"Earlier today, a student used a knife to injure another student. The victim has been treated for their injuries. The campus is secure, and thanks to the quick response of police, the suspect is custody."

School violence puts parents on edge

Parents are worried and concerned after a Sprayberry High School student was stabbed inside the school Wednesday. 

"Something has to be done. Something needs to be done for our kids' safety," said Jana Justice, whose daughter will be going to Sprayberry next year. 

Parents have been hearing about stabbings, even shootings, at schools across metro Atlanta recently, including two people being shot just last month at another Cobb County School. The shooting happened in the parking lot of McEachern High School. 

"We have to make our kids a priority, we have to make them safe," said Justice. 

Justice says all schools need more security. 

"I would definitely want metal detectors in the school, that's something they really need to look at considering," said Justice.

"I'm very concerned I have two kids in the Cobb County school system," said Adam Sutton, a parent. 

Sutton agrees something needs to be done, but he's not sure metal detectors are the way to go. 

"I prefer more training and more resources in the schools versus metal detectors and those kinds of things," said Sutton. 

Whatever the answer is, parents say safety should be a top priority. 

"I feel it's not safe anymore, anywhere.  It's just getting worse," said Nesbitt.