Large Stanley Cup Used In Unprovoked North Penn Middle School Attack: Police

LANSDALE, PA — The assault on a North Penn School District student earlier this week was unprovoked and involved a large metal Stanley cup, police confirmed on Friday.

Outraged parents say they tried to warn the district that the attacking student posed a threat.

The incident occurred at around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday during the seventh grade lunch at Pennbrook Middle School.

Police and school officials said the victim, a girl, was walking when the attacking student ran up to her and began beating her repeatedly on the back of the head with the metal cup.

Initial reports indicated that there had been an altercation, but police confirmed Friday that the incident was an assault, not a fight.

See previous coverage: Pennbrook Middle School Student Hospitalized After Cafeteria Attack

The incident has outraged both parents and students in the North Penn School District, many of whom gathered at Thursday night's board meeting to express their concerns. Multiple parents said the district was aware of the danger posed by the attacking student, claiming that there were "hit lists" and plans for physical assaults and that the district could have done more to intervene.

"I just don't know how that went unchecked," said a woman who identified herself as Stephanie, a parent of a Pennbrook student. "How this child was able to remain in school...(if something was done) maybe this poor little girl wouldn't be sitting at home, traumatized."

A Pennbrook student who spoke at the meeting, Emily, said that the attacker had targeted the victim routinely at lunch. She also said that she and other students had warned school counselors that an attack was coming.

"I had to watch them clean up the blood...watch her (the victim) get taken out with blood dripping down her face," Emily told the gathered crowd at the board meeting. "I'll never forget it. We shouldn't have had to sit there."

Beyond the forewarning, public attendees were also concerned why security guards were unable to stop the assault before it got worse.

"What is wrong with you guys?" one woman interrupted the board members talking, sobbing. "This is not ok."

The board did not address the issue directly beyond fielding the comments, as the district's Sunshine Act provisions do not allow it from taking action on issues not on the agenda.

The district previously said that the rumors circulating that the attacker was previously expelled from another middle school and transferred to Pennbrook are false.

Meanwhile, the district said they are fully cooperating with Upper Gwynedd Police on the investigation.

In the short term, North Penn is providing a district wide traumatic event response team to support students. "I also recognize that the other students present were alarmed and scared by what they witnessed," Bauer added.

Pennbrook Principal Nick Taylor met with each grade on Thursday to discuss the support and further safety steps.