15-year-old student charged with voluntary manslaughter in stabbing death at Santa Rosa, Calif., high school
A 15-year-old student at a Santa Rosa, Calif., high school has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of another student.
The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reports that Daniel Jesus Pulido faces charges of one count of voluntary manslaughter with an enhancement of using a deadly and dangerous weapon and one felony count of unlawfully bringing and possessing a weapon on school grounds.
The charges stem from a March 1 fight inside an art class at Montgomery High School.
The victim, Jayden Pienta, 16, died from wounds suffered after an initial confrontation between students outside a classroom led to a fight inside.
Pienta was stabbed once in the chest and twice in the back, police said. A second 16-year-old boy was stabbed in his hand.
Prosecutors said they filed a manslaughter charge rather than first- or second-degree murder based on reports that the 15-year-old was defending himself during the altercation.
About the Author
Mike Kennedy
Senior Editor
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.
