Tacoma’s Foss High School stabbing leaves 6 hurt. Here’s what to know

A 16-year-old student is accused of injuring four classmates and a security guard during a fight at Foss High School in Tacoma on Thursday afternoon. The attack triggered a lockdown, sent six people to hospitals and led to first-degree assault charges.

Here are key takeaways:

• Waleed Emad Essakhi, 16, was charged with four counts of first-degree assault and had bail set at $750,000 at his arraignment Friday. A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.

• The Tacoma Fire Department responded to the school at 1:38 p.m. Thursday. Five victims — one adult and four students — plus the suspect were taken to local hospitals.

• Court documents say four student victims confronted Essakhi because he allegedly stole a vape pen from their friend. One victim was stabbed in the chest, and a surgeon had to remove a section of his lung.

• A security guard was cut on the arm while trying to intervene and disarm Essakhi, who used a wood-handled folding pocketknife, per charging documents. Essakhi also had a laceration on his left leg requiring sutures.

• Foss High School, located in Central Tacoma, had 557 students enrolled at the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The school was also the site of a fatal shooting in 2007 when student Samnang Kok, 17, was killed by a classmate.

• Classes were canceled Friday and resume Monday with extra counselors and staff on hand, according to Tacoma Public Schools. A pre-trial hearing for Essakhi is scheduled for June 1.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.