Student suspected of stabbing principal in Rosemead

ROSEMEAD -- A sophomore at a private high school allegedly stabbed the school principal in his office Friday, authorities said.
Principal Gary Catalano of the Don Bosco Technical School was hospitalized in stable condition following the 12:15 p.m. incident at the all-male Catholic campus at 1151 San Gabriel Blvd., officials said.
The student went into the school's administration building and asked to see Principal Catalano, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Johnie Jones said.
Once in Catalano's office, Jones said, the student showed Catalano some documents prior to the "seemingly unprovoked" attack.
"With one hand, (the student) showed him the paperwork and with the other hand, the student stabbed the principal twice in the back," Jones said.
In a written statement, Don Bosco Technical School President Sharon Morano briefly recapped the event and said Catalano was in good condition.
"Our concern is for the Principal's well-being and our students' safety," she said.
The student, 16, fled the school after the stabbing but was arrested in the surrounding neighborhood, Jones said. He had with him a small pocket knife believed to have been used in the stabbing.
School Human Resources Manager Teresa Herrera said the incident posed no threat to other students, and the campus was not locked down. Students were released from school at the usual time.
She added that Catalano had been working at the school for two years.
The teenage suspect, whose name was not released due to his age, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, officials said.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said there was no history of problems between the student and principal.
"At this point, we don't know any reason why he did it," she said.
Nishida added that the incident was highly uncharacteristic of the "very prestigious school."
Don Bosco Technical School is an all male campus of about 700 students, Herrera said.
It teaches specialized subjects such as computer science, electronics and construction.
Luis Briseno, 19, of Hacienda Heights said he graduated in 2008 and was surprised to see the campus surrounded by deputies when he arrived to pick up some paperwork.
Briseno said in his experience, the school was always safe and peaceful.
"Nothing like this has ever happened," he said.