DEVELOPING: Former student stabs 3 staff members at school in California - police say

Shocking Attack at Torrance Special-Needs School: Former Student Stabs Multiple Staff, Issues Bomb Threat

TORRANCE, Calif. — A horrifying morning of violence unfolded at a private school for students with special needs in Torrance on Monday, as a former pupil allegedly stabbed at least two—and possibly up to four—staff members before threatening to detonate pipe bombs on campus, authorities confirmed. The assailant was swiftly taken into custody, but the incident left the community reeling and prompted a massive law enforcement response, including SWAT teams and explosives experts.

The attack occurred around 8:30 a.m. at the Switzer Learning Center, located at 2201 Amapola Court, a nonpublic K-12 institution specializing in behavioral health and education for children and young adults with learning differences.

Torrance Police Lt. Devin Ahmad reported that the suspect, identified only as a former student at the center, entered the premises armed with a knife and carried out the unprovoked assault on school staff.

Eyewitness accounts and early police alerts described a chaotic scene, with victims rushed to nearby hospitals in critical condition.

Initial reports from the scene indicated two staff members—believed to be teachers—were stabbed, with their conditions described as unknown at the time.

However, social media alerts and unconfirmed updates from local responders suggested the number of victims could be as high as four, with at least two remaining in critical condition following emergency transport.

SkyFOX aerial footage captured a discarded knife and backpack on the grassy lawn outside the school, underscoring the ferocity of the encounter.

Compounding the terror, the suspect reportedly made explicit threats about possessing pipe bombs during the attack, triggering an immediate lockdown and evacuation.

Torrance police issued a public advisory at approximately 8:40 a.m., urging residents to avoid the intersection of Amapola Avenue and 205th Street due to "police activity."

Within minutes, an armored SWAT vehicle and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arson-explosives investigators descended on the site, sweeping the area for potential devices.

The suspect was apprehended without further incident shortly after the stabbings, though details about their identity, age, or possible motives remain under wraps as investigators piece together the timeline.

Authorities have not yet released information on any prior history between the individual and the victims, but the fact that the attacker was a former attendee has raised haunting questions about unresolved grievances at the facility.

Switzer Learning Center, which serves a vulnerable population of students requiring specialized support, was placed under full lockdown as parents scrambled to reunite with their children. School officials have not issued a public statement, but grief counselors are reportedly being mobilized to assist those affected. "This is a tight-knit community, and today's events shatter that sense of safety," said one anonymous parent reached by phone, their voice trembling. "These educators pour their hearts into helping kids who need it most—it's unthinkable."

The incident marks the latest in a string of alarming school-related violence across Southern California this year, following a fatal stabbing outside Santa Ana High School in May and another assault at a Pittsburgh-area high school in September.

Local leaders, including Torrance Mayor George Chen, expressed outrage and called for enhanced security measures at educational institutions serving at-risk youth.As of midday Monday, the investigation is ongoing, with bomb threats fully cleared and the school site secured.

17GEN4.com