Many Students Stabbed, Cut At Pennsylvania High School

At least 19 teenagers and one adult were injured, some seriously, Wednesday morning at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pa., when a male suspect who authorities say is a 16-year-old fellow student attacked them with sharp weapons — reportedly two knives.

Not all the students were cut or stabbed.  But authorities said several of the young people suffered stab wounds serious enough to require immediate surgery. By 11 a.m. ET, doctors were saying that the four most seriously injured victims had life-threatening injuries but are expected to survive.

According to NPR member station WESA:

"Westmorland [County] Public Safety Spokesperson Dan Stevens [said] that 20 students were injured in today's stabbing at Franklin Regional High School. Four of those victims were sent by Life Flight to area hospitals with serious injures. ...

"Stevens said the stabbings apparently took place in several classrooms and hallways over about a half hour before police were able to arrest the suspect."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette adds that "the injured students' ages range from 14 to 17." Murrysville is about 20 miles east of Pittsburgh.

On CNN moments ago, Stevens said it isn't yet clear what type of weapon the attacker used. He said their injuries include puncture wounds and lacerations. The school's resource officer called 911 at 7:13 a.m. ET to alert authorities, Stevens said.

We'll keep an eye on developments and update. As happens when stories such as this are breaking, details are likely to change as the day continues.

Update at 10:15 a.m. ET. Some "Significant Injuries," Doctor Says:

Dr. Christophe Kaufmann, director of trauma services at Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville, Pa., tells reporters that three of the patients at his facility were being operated on Wednesday morning for "stab wounds of the chest and abdomen. ... These were significant injuries." Other patients he said, may need "operative care" later today. The Post-Gazette has a video of his comments here:

Update at 10:05 a.m. ET. One Student May Have Saved Another's Life:

"The CEO of Forbes Hospital tells KDKA's Heather Abraham that one-student applied pressure to an injured classmate, possibly saving [that] student's life."

Update at 9:55 a.m. ET. Knife Reportedly Used:

WESA reports that Stevens, the public safety spokesman, "says the suspect used a knife, though he didn't say what kind or why he attacked the others."

Update at 9:30 a.m. ET. One Adult Reportedly Injured:

County spokesman Stevens says one of those injured was an adult, the Post-Gazette reports.