Jayden Jess Pienta, a junior at Montgomery High School, passed away after a fight in an art class when another student stabbed him three times in the chest.
Who was Jayden Pienta?
On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, a 16-year-old high school junior named Jayden Pienta was fatally stabbed at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa. According to authorities, a physical altercation broke out between a freshman student and two juniors.
Law enforcement officials received reports of the fight at around 11.11 am on Wednesday. The physical altercation turned so violent that 16-year-old Jayden Pienta died as a result of the stabbing, while the other junior sustained injuries.
The suspect has been identified as a 15-year-old male freshman student, whose identity has not been revealed as he allegedly fled the area. He was later found hiding in a creek bed and was arrested. According to law enforcement officials, the freshman was confronted by Jayden Pienta and another junior.
Mourners come together at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa for 16 year old stabbed to death on campus today. 15 year old suspect in custody. Details on @nbcbayarea news at 6pm. pic.twitter.com/y4Fx8uA00K
— TerryMcSweeney (@TerryMcSweeney) March 2, 2023
A tragic incident happened at Santa Rosa High school
A tragic incident recently happened at a high school in Santa Rosa when a 16-year-old Jayden Pienta junior was fatally stabbed. Jayden Pienta, along with another 16-year-old junior, reportedly walked into an art class and confronted a freshman (15), whose identity is yet to be revealed.
The three soon got into a fight that turned violent when the freshman pulled out a knife and stabbed the juniors. Pienta was stabbed thrice in the upper body, while the other junior was stabbed in the left hand.
According to authorities, the knife was about 4-5 inches long and had a black handle. They arrested the freshman who was hiding in a creek bed. According to Santa Rosa police:
“No Active Threat to Students or Staff. This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be released soon. On March 1, 2023, at 11:11 am, the Santa Rosa Police Department’s Communication Center was notified about a fight on the Montgomery High School campus (1250 Hahman Drive, Santa Rosa.”
They further added:
“At least one student was injured. As numerous officers were responding, the suspect fled the school campus. There is no active threat to students or staff on campus. This incident is still under investigation and more will be released soon.”
Where is the Suspect Now?
A press conference took place on the same day later in the afternoon where it was mentioned that the injured juniors were conscious while police and paramedics arrived.
They were immediately rushed to the hospital, where Jayden Pienta succumbed to his injuries. Addressing how the suspect had fled the scene and the authorities were looking for him, Police Chief John Cregan said:
“We had 36 Santa Rosa officers respond to this incident and started combing the area. We had mutual aid assistance from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and the Sonoma County helicopter aided in our search.”
Law enforcement officials reportedly received a tip from a witness at St. Eugene’s Cathedral. The chief further added:
“The knife was described as a folding knife with a black handle that had a blade of approximately four to five inches.”
Family heartbroken over the shocking news- Jayden Pienta
Family and friends gathered Wednesday night, setting up a memorial for their nephew and grandson Jayden. “He was stabbed in the heart three times,” said Pienta’s aunt Carole Snell.
Family members spoke to ABC7 after talking with students who were inside the classroom. “He was a good boy, he was kind-hearted, sweet loving, and gentle. He’s a big boy but he wouldn’t harm anybody,” said Pienta’s grandmother Cheryl Griffin.
When we asked family members why Jayden and another student went to the classroom like the police said, this was their response:
“We don’t know that. We’re not going to confirm or deny that. We don’t know that. We have no idea. Jayden’s not here to tell us what happened,” said several of Pienta’s family members. They say there have been recent run-ins with Jayden and the 15-year-old student who was arrested.
Those who knew and loved Jayden continued to show up Wednesday night at the makeshift memorial under the flagpole. His grandmother was in tears.
“I did not expect for my daughter to go through this. How is she going to get through this? How do you let her bury her baby? I don’t understand,” said Griffin.
Henry K Lee Posted
Family mourns after student Jayden Pienta, 16, dies after being stabbed at Montgomery High in Santa Rosa during a fight that left 2nd 16yo boy hurt. 15yo boy held by @SantaRosaPolice on suspicion of murder, att. murder, assault & bringing weapons on campus.
User001 Posted
@AmyLarson25 @kron4news This seems like self-defense. Two juniors enter a class with a freshman and then start a fight. The freshman pulls a knife and stabs them and runs away. It is known that there has been fighting in the past between the two juniors and the freshman. School is 100% at fault here.
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