15-year-old student critical after incident at Murrell Dobbins High School: officials

PHILADELPHIA – A teenage girl is fighting for her life after officials said an incident at a North Philadelphia high school left her in critical condition.

According to Philadelphia officials, a tragic incident occurred at Murrell Dobbins High School on Tuesday.

Due to the incident, a 15-year-old student was immediately taken from school to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, where she is receiving intensive care and treatment.

Her condition remains critical.

Philadelphia detectives are working closely with school leadership to gather information and understand all circumstances surrounding this incident.

The investigation is still in the development phase and police say they are making no assumptions about the incident and are primarily focused on the safety and well-being of the student, her family and the school community.

Dr. Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said Murrell Dobbins High School was placed on lockdown immediately after Tuesday's incident. Emergency crisis response counselors have been made available to students at the school.

On Wednesday, the high school will open as usual and mental health support and counseling will be made available to all students who request it.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the student and her family, as well as her classmates and friends at Murrell Dobbins High School,” said Dr. Watlington.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker walked with Dr. Watlington and Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel went to the hospital, along with Public Safety Director Adam Geer, School Board President Reginald Streater, Education Director Debora Carrera and other city officials to visit the student's mother, father and family .

“I ask the media to exercise sensitivity in their reporting of this tragedy until the police can complete their investigation and share their findings with the family, the school district and my office,” said Mayor Parker. “The well-being of the student and her family, as well as all students and staff at Murrell Dobbins, must be our primary concern today.”