Sometimes it seems like stabbings are a daily occurrence in Santa Cruz. Even the police are picking up on it now. SCPD Spokesperson Zach Friend now says that, “As we saw with the tragic death of Tyler Tonario, when you engage in a verbal altercation that you maybe think is just a verbal altercation, or could be just a simple fist fight, it’s now turning into tragic stabbings more and more.” Other police officers are pointing out that knives have become the weapon of choice among teens, replacing good old-fashioned fist-fights.
Sometimes it seems like stabbings are a daily occurrence in Santa Cruz. Even the police are picking up on it now. SCPD Spokesperson Zach Friend now says that, “As we saw with the tragic death of Tyler Tonario, when you engage in a verbal altercation that you maybe think is just a verbal altercation, or could be just a simple fist fight, it’s now turning into tragic stabbings more and more.” Other police officers are pointing out that knives have become the weapon of choice among teens, with knife fights having replaced good old-fashioned fist-fights.
Part of the problem lies with increased gang activity. Barnaby Clark, a local police officer assigned to schools, says that if students are affiliated with gangs, “I’d say yes they’d be likely to have a knife.” He points out that carrying a knife in school is a felony, while having one on the street is a misdemeanor at best. What this means is that kids are more careful to conceal their weapons at school and take their fights off school property, after school is over. Read more at Fox 35.
