SOUTH POINT, Ohio — The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a stabbing that took place at South Point Elementary School on Thursday afternoon.
At approximately 1:41 PM, authorities received a call from the school reporting that Principal William Christian had been stabbed by a parent of a student. The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Joshua Lee Collins of Huntington, West Virginia, was still inside the building when law enforcement arrived.
A South Point Police officer reached the scene within one minute and confronted Collins, taking him into custody without further incident. During this time, the school initiated a lockdown, and fortunately, no children were harmed.
According to reports, Collins entered the school and interacted with Principal Christian in the hallway just outside the front office. Following a discussion related to a child custody issue, Collins allegedly pulled a knife and began stabbing Christian in the neck and upper torso. Christian managed to escape into the office, locking the door behind him. However, Collins broke the glass window of the door to gain entry and pursued the principal through various areas of the office before the police officer intervened in the cafeteria.
Christian received immediate treatment from the school nurse before being transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington, where he was reported in stable condition.
Collins suffered cuts to his arms, likely from the broken glass, and was also taken to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment. A warrant for felonious assault has been issued against him. He will face charges once he undergoes an extradition hearing following his arrest by Huntington police.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI&I) Crime Scene Unit is processing the scene as detectives continue their investigation. Additional charges against Collins are anticipated as the inquiry unfolds.