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During a conference on Thursday, school and city officials confirmed that a threat was made to the school over social media following the fatal stabbing of Valaree Schwab, a junior at the high school who was fatally stabbed twice with a steak knife outside of Dunkin’ Donuts during a dispute near the high school.
- School officials said that several high school students stayed at home on Thursday amid the threats. Police increased patrols in and around the school on Thursday morning in advance of classes.
“What occurred yesterday is a profound and heartbreaking human tragedy,” New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said. “All people of good will are surely joined today in grieving the loss of a young life, in praying for the family, friends, and classmates of Ms. Schwab, and in expressing our firm and unshakable belief and intent that no young person should ever be the victim or the perpetrator of violence.”
Bramson added that it is now “our collective responsibility to consider the chain of events that led to this horrific outcome, and to reflect on how we can each in our own roles better serve our children.” He noted that his children, who are due to enter the high school in the next two years, will be sent to school “with eagerness and joy, (and he and his wife are) absolutely certain that they, like all children in New Rochelle, will be valued, nurtured, and protected.”
“Every day, thousands of young people arrive at New Rochelle High School to learn and grow. They greet each other with love, and respect, and friendship – and with pride in the strong school community they have built together, alongside their teachers. That is just as true today as it was yesterday. And it will remain true tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that.”
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