16-year-old suspect charged in mass stabbing at Washington high school that started over vape pen, records show

TACOMA, Wash. — The teen suspected of stabbing four students and a Foss High School security guard was charged with four counts of first-degree assault Friday.

Waleed Emad Essakhi, 16, was charged as an adult for the April 30 incident. A judge granted bail of $750,000 in a hearing on Friday and scheduled the next hearing in the case for June 1.

Around 1:30 p.m. April 30, Tacoma police officers responded to reports of a stabbing at Foss High School for a mass stabbing in the cafeteria and a hallway. When they arrived, officers found six people with injuries.

Three people were taken to Tacoma General Hospital. Three others were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital. At least two victims required surgery, including one who required the removal of a portion of his lung, according to charging documents.

The security guard told police he was in the principal’s office when he heard a call for assistance. He ran to the hallway with the principal and saw a group of students fighting. When he reached to grab Essakhi, he got cut but was able to disarm him.

The security guard told police Essahkhi apologized to him. The guard said he believes Essahki did not intentionally stab him.

Prior to the confrontation, one of the students received a call from another stating they were going to get into a fight with Essakhi. He told police he noticed Essakhi clutching something in his pocket before the fight broke out. Essakhi kept getting in their “bubble,” and they began “bombing” on him. He then looked down and saw he was bleeding.

Another victim said all four who were stabbed had issues with Essakhi over an incident the day before at a skate park. They told police their friend said Essakhi stole from him and that one of the students should confront him about it.

A third victim said he heard Essakhi had taken a vape pen from someone but did not know the person.

A relative of Essakhi told police she heard the fight was also over a vape pen.

According to charging documents, security video shows the four victims confront Essakhi. At one point they make a semi-circle around him. Video shows him slapping his own face and bouncing back and forth toward one of the other students, “as if trying to get [the student] to strike first.”

Essakhi can then be seen reaching into his pocket and pulling something out. One of the victims and Essakhi lunge toward each other and the fight ensues. 

KING 5 obtained video of the incident, which shows the fight after it began.