Pa. Knife-Wielding Teen to be Tried as an Adult

A Pennsylvania high school is closed Thursday following yesterday's stabbing spree that left 22 people wounded.

Alex Hribal, a 16-year-old sophomore at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pa., faces four counts of attempted homicide and 21 counts of aggravated assault. Two victims were in critical condition Wednesday evening, but are expected to recover.

Hribal is being held without bail at a juvenile detention center.

The suspect's father, Harold Hribal, said his "prayers go out to everyone who was injured today and I hope they recover as quickly as possible."

Hribal's attorney, Pat Thomassey, said his family didn't "see this coming."

"He's a typical young kid," Thomassey said. "He's a B+ student. The family is like Ozzie and Harriet. They have dinner together every night. They did not see this coming."

Meanwhile, there were prayer vigils and tears in the suburban Pittsburg community Wednesday night.

Resident Joan Smeltzer, a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, prayed that God would bring "healing to our region."

"Now here again we're witnessing young people being hurt, and I just feel very strongly that we need to address the underlining issues," she said.

Many students and faculty at the high school are being hailed as heroes. One student pulled the fire alarm to alert everyone in the building.

Even so, 21 students and a security guard were injured in the incident, which didn't end until the assistant principal tackled the 16-year-old assailant.

Prosecutors say the suspect will be tried as an adult. A preliminary hearing is set for April 30.