Juvenile used butcher knife in Daleville stabbing

An apparent argument and fight over an audio speaker led to a 17 year old being stabbed with a butcher knife Monday night. The stabbing occurred at the local McDonald's late Monday afternoon. Multiple parents have contacted the school system with concern for safety, but officials say school is safe and all is quiet today.

Daleville Police Chief Harvey Mathis said the victim underwent surgery Monday night at a Dothan hospital for a lower abdominal stab wound. Mathis said the Daleville High School student is expected to fully recover but will spend several days in the hospital.

The alleged perpetrator was arrested when he sought medical help at Flowers Hospital in Dothan around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. Mathis said the young man, not believed to be a student at the local high school, had apparently suffered minor injuries to an eye during the scuffle.

The disagreement, according to Mathis, began on the campus of the high school after school hours, progressed to the city recreation center, and then on to the local McDonald’s on North Daleville Avenue, which is where the situation escalated into a stabbing incident. Mathis said they believe the 17 year old went home or to some location after departing the recreation department and retrieved the butcher knife that was allegedly used in the attack.

Mathis said Daleville officers made an extra effort to be present at the high school Tuesday morning to communicate the message that such activity will not be tolerated. He also said any decision to charge the teenagers as adults will be left up to the district attorney’s office and the courts.

All schools are open and students are safe, said officials. “We have extra security at the school today. Everything is quiet. We are always concerned with the safety of our students. That comes first,” said superintendent Andrew Kelley. “We appreciate the Daleville Department of Public Safety helping us during this time.”