Police Identify Boy, 16, Killed In Stabbing At Montgomery High School

SANTA ROSA, CA — A 16-year-old student who was fatally stabbed Wednesday at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa was identified by police as Jayden Jess Pienta.

Jayden, who was a junior at the school, suffered at least three stab wounds and was pronounced dead at a local hospital, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Christopher Mahurin said.

Another 16-year-old boy suffered at least one stab wound and was expected to survive his injuries, according to police.

A 15-year-old boy who is a freshman at the school was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Juvenile Justice Center on suspicion of homicide, attempted homicide, weapon on a school campus and battery on a school campus. His name will not be released because of his age, police said.

According to police, around 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jayden and the other 16-year-old boy walked into an art class they were not attending and an argument and fight ensued inside the classroom with the 15-year-old freshman.

"The teacher and three aides were able to briefly break up the fight, but the three students quickly began fighting again," Mahurin said. "The 15-year-old brandished a knife and stabbed both 16-year-olds."

Jayden and the other injured junior walked to the school's medical office and the 15-year-old ran out of the classroom and fled northeast from the campus, police said.

At 11:11 a.m., police dispatchers received calls from school staff about a fight between students and a possible stabbing.

Officers got to the campus at 11:15 a.m. and located the two stabbing victims. An officer began life-saving efforts with one of the students before both were taken to a local hospital.

Officers with the help of a Sonoma County Sheriff's helicopter crew found the 15-year-old suspect hiding near the creek at state Highway 12 and Farmers Lane and took him into custody without further incident.

"Good Boy Who Was Kindhearted And Loving"

A makeshift memorial containing flowers, balloons, candles, photos and handwritten messages continued to grow Thursday outside Montgomery High School, where classes were canceled for the rest of this week.

"It's senseless for a 16-year-old to lose his life...over what?" Jayden's stepfather, Tom Lenwell, told news reporters late Wednesday following a vigil at the campus.

"I'm hurt. Sad. I'm never gonna get to see Jayden again," Lenwell told KTVU Fox 2. "I'm not gonna get to laugh and joke with him anymore. Those days are gone."

Jayden's grandmother, Cheryl Griffin, described her grandson as a good boy who was kindhearted and loving. She said Jayden had problems last week with the 15-year-old. All four tires on his car were slashed, she told KTVU.

It was not clear whether the tire slashing was reported to anyone but Santa Rosa police Chief John Cregan said during a news conference that investigators would be looking into previous altercations between the students.

"It appears there had been some previous altercations between these students," Cregan said. "That will be one of the things our investigators are looking into. And we are looking for students who may have information about that to come forward to the Santa Rosa Police Department."

Detectives were working to determine the cause of the incident and the relationship between the students. Police asked anyone who witnessed the fatal fight to reach out to detectives at 707-543-3590. Detectives were also seeking any video footage that might have been taken before and during the incident.