Dreamstime

COATESVILLE, Pa. — Prosecutors have announced attempted murder and other charges against a 16-year-old youth in the stabbing of another student at a high school near Philadelphia that reportedly stemmed from a fight over a vape cartridge.

Police were called to Coatesville Area Senior High School just before 7:30 a.m. Tuesday after a student was reported stabbed in a second-floor bathroom. The Chester County prosecutor's office said he had multiple stab wounds to the neck, shoulder, armpit and lower back. He was later reported in stable condition at a hospital.

Prosecutors said a witness told investigators that the victim “believed the defendant had stolen a vape cigarette cartridge from him and wanted to fight." Prosecutors said the two met in a bathroom but a teacher came in and dispersed the crowd, so the two and other students moved to another bathroom where the pair began to fight.

“A video of the fight was posted on social media and the defendant is seen stabbing the victim multiple times with an item gripped in his right hand," prosecutors said. In addition, prosecutors said, “a knife covered in blood" was recovered at the school. The suspect fled but turned himself into the police later in the day.

Prosecutors said Wednesday the youth was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, possession of a weapon on school property, possessing instruments of crime, and related counts. He was ordered held at the Chester County Youth Center in lieu of $750,000 bail pending a June 1 preliminary hearing.

After the stabbing, school police and Caln Township police placed the school and all other buildings on the property on lockdown and students were dismissed for the day. The substitute superintendent, Rick Dunlap, called it an “extremely upsetting incident” and said counseling was to be available Wednesday for students and staff.