Three knife attacks have happened in three days at schools in the city this week. The latest one happened on Thursday at AECI Charter School in the Bronx.

Nas Waters’ son attends AECI. He said he dropped everything when he was alerted to the knife attack, which sent a 15-year-old to the hospital.

“My wife, she told me we had a lockdown. Automatically, I went flying out of my job, told my boss I got to go,” Waters said.

What You Need To Know

  • Thursday’s incident followed knife attacks at schools on both Tuesday and Wednesday

  • On Friday, 135 school safety agents will be sworn-in and 43 agents who were hired over the summer will graduate

  • It’s unclear when the new school safety agents would be placed at schools

“That’s New York City. Everyone is carrying a knife these days,” he added. 

Thursday’s incident followed one on Wednesday where a teen was slashed on the leg at James Kieran School, also in the Bronx, and another incident on Tuesday where a teen was stabbed at Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn.

“It’s scary. Actually, it’s terrifying, not just for the students of course but also for the parents,” founder of NYC School Safety Coalition Mona Davids said.

Data from NYC School Safety Coalition sources shows when compared to the same time period of July 1 to Dec. 6 of last year, this year, knives recovered at schools are up roughly 8%, and box cutters or razors recovered are up roughly 3%.

Firearms recovered had no changes. Tasers or stun guns recovered are down by roughly 36% and BB guns recovered are down roughly 9%.

“What we need is for Mayor Adams to really invest even more resources into hiring additional school safety agents, because it’s these school safety agents that keep our children safe,” Davids said.

The city said more school safety agents are on the way.

On Friday, 135 agents will be sworn in, and 43 agents who were hired over the summer will graduate. The new hires come after the city abruptly canceled a class of 250 prospects due to budget concerns stemming from the migrant crisis.

“We do thank Mayor Adams for reinstating the class, but the fact of the matter is this: we are short over 1,000 school safety agents,” Davids said.

Chancellor David Banks has said not all students bring weapons to school to cause harm, but to protect themselves while traveling to and from school.

“This is a serious crisis that we are dealing with right now in New York City with our youth,” Davids said.

It’s unclear when the new school safety agents would be placed at schools.