Virginia High School Student Hospitalized with ‘Life-Threatening Injuries’ After Being Stabbed in Neck By Fellow Student

A high school student in Virginia is fighting for his life after being stabbed by a fellow student.

The altercation occurred between two male students at Henrico High School on Wednesday, Dec. 4, said Henrico County Police in a news update.

In an alert sent to families and staff by Henrico County Public Schools, per WRIC ABC 8News, and later shared on Facebook by school board member Ryan Young, the school system said the high school had been placed on lockdown after “a serious altercation between two students” and asked for parents not to pick up their kids until further notice.

Henrico County Police said that after a school resource officer discovered the two male students, one of them was transported to an area hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Crime insider sources told WTVR-TV that he was stabbed in the neck.

The other teen was transported to a different area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, per police.

Although the lockdown was later lifted, students ate boxed lunches in their classrooms and entered a “lock-and-teach” mode, where they were not permitted to leave their classrooms without an escort, reports the Henrico Citizen.

While the two male students’ names have not been released, Henrico County Police said they are working “quickly and thoroughly as possible to determine what led up to this incident,” noting that detectives are on the scene conducting an investigation.

The police department added: “This is an isolated incident, and there is no active threat to the community.”

Henrico Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell and Henrico County Police Chief Eric D. English released a joint statement expressing that “leaders have taken many steps to address matters of school security and community safety, yet today is a sad reminder that there is always work to be done.”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“Although this was an isolated incident, we encourage everyone to remain vigilant: If you see or hear something concerning, report it to the police or a trusted adult,” the statement said. “At the same time, we will continue to work tirelessly to find solutions and resources that keep our students — and the incredible adults who teach and support them — safe and sound.”