Teacher’s Aide at Columbus Middle School Gets Stabbed

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, January 21, 1999
On January 21, 1999, at 8:35 a.m., West Valley Area officers responded to an "Ambulance ADW Cutting" radio call at 22200 block of Elkwood Ave in Canoga Park. The location of the incident was Columbus Middle School.
The responding officers were met by the victim, a 41 year old female employed at the school as a teachers aide. She was bleeding from an abdominal area stab wound. She informed the officers that she had just parked her car in the employee parking lot on the east side of the school. As she stepped out of her car she was approached by three suspects. One of the suspects moved behind her and placed his arm around her neck, bending her upper torso backwards. At that time a second suspect stabbed her in the abdomen.

The victim was transported by Los Angeles City Fire Department ambulance to a local hospital where she was admitted in serious but stable condition. The suspects have been described as three male Hispanics with shaved heads, 18-21 years of age, possible gang members, armed with a knife. The motive for the stabbing is unknown. No arrests have been made.

If anyone has any information leading to the capture and arrest of these outstanding suspects please contact Detective Rick Swanson, West Valley Homicide Detectives, at (818) 756-8546.

For further information on the victim, please contact Principal Gaile Hughes, Columbus Middle School at (818) 348-5601.

For Release 2:25 pm PST
January 21, 1999