Fight, Stabbing and Felony Charges: Did Providence School Department Try to Downplay Violence

Fight, Stabbing and Felony Charges: Did Providence School Department Try to Downplay Violence

A video secured by GoLocal and published on Wednesday shows three students repeatedly kicking another student lying on the ground in the hallway of Central High School. The beating was broken up by other students.

The video then shows the student who was repeatedly kicked pull a knife from his pants. A fellow student yelled, “He’s got a knife.”

The student holding the knife then ran down a flight of stairs and was grabbed by Principal Robert DiMuccio, who was stabbed in a struggle with the student. DiMuccio was taken to Rhode Island Hospital by ambulance and treated for the injury.

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The student who stabbed DiMuccio is facing multiple charges, including:

* assault on a school teacher causing serious bodily injury (FELONY)
* one count of resisting arrest
* one count of possession of a weapon on school grounds (FELONY)

The police are also investigating the three students who were captured at the beginning of the video.

 

The Letter

After the incident, Providence Public Schools officials sent a letter to parents at Central High School — before GoLocal made the video public.

The letter did not disclose the first fight — the three students stomping on the student as he was lying on the floor covering himself.

Nor does the letter disclose that DiMuccio was stabbed — public relations officials at the Providence School Department called it an “inadvertent cut.”

Providence Schools official Scott Sutherland, Chief of Staff, signed the letter to parents.

He wrote of the three students who beat one student, and then that student who stabbed the principal, “The students involved in today’s incident will receive appropriate support and resources to address this behavior.”

 

See Video Above

 

Read the full letter below:

 

November 30, 2022

Dear Central High School, Classical High School, and PCTA Families;

I am writing to provide details on an incident at Central High School today, along with the school’s response and planned next steps. This morning, while attempting to de-escalate a fight at Central High School, Central Principal Robert DiMuccio was inadvertently cut on his arm and required medical attention. Fortunately, Principal DiMuccio was treated for his injuries and will return to work today.

Administrators and staff at the school did a terrific job following safety protocol. Police were immediately called and the school was placed in a heightened security status where visitors are not allowed and students temporarily remain in their classrooms. Administrators at Classical High School and PCTA were also notified.

Police arrived quickly and the students involved were removed from campus. Once police helped determine that there was no additional safety risk, the school day resumed

The students involved in today’s incident will receive appropriate support and resources to address this behavior. School mental health support staff are available to any students who may have been upset by today’s events.

Students from the surrounding schools may have been able to see Principal DiMuccio being treated outside of the building, so additional support services are also available to Classical and PCTA students if needed. We want to assure everyone that Principal DiMuccio is expected to be fine, and we thank him, our staff, and first responders for their prompt and professional response today.

Thank you, and I look forward to working together to ensure a productive and rewarding academic year.

Respectfully,

Scott Sutherland,

Chief of Staff, Providence Public Schools