Police to increase security in Kennedy Plaza following stabbing of teen
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Providence police will have a larger presence in Kennedy Plaza after a 16-year-old boy from Mount Pleasant High School was stabbed multiple times on Tuesday.
Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Caleb Whalen of Providence, a student at Hope High School. Whalen was arrested and is facing felony assault charges.
"From what we understand, this might've been some sort of prearranged fight here," said Providence Police Maj. David Lapatin. "So I don't see any problem with any students taking the bus."
The teen victim is in stable condition at Hasbro Children's Hospital.
Moving forward, Lapatin says we'll see more security at Kennedy Plaza.
"You'll see some extra uniformed people and some youth services detectives to watch the plaza just to make sure everything's okay. We believe it'll be just fine," he said.
Lapatin said police do not anticipate more incidents like this, but want students to know they're safe.
"We want the perception to be for people like, 'Hey, you know we feel safe waiting for our busses,'" he said.
A MET High School student, who told NBC 10 she witnessed the chaos, said she feels safe but will stay aware of her surroundings.
"This is where I live, and people are getting stabbed and stuff when I'm going home from school? That's crazy," she said.
A spokesperson for Providence Public Schools said Hope and Mount Pleasant High Schools will have additional mental health support following the incident.