Media Release UPDATE PELLA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Chief Shane S. McSheehy
Pella Police Department
For immediate release: November 21, 2024

We would like to acknowledge that yesterday was a very challenging day for the Pella community,
particularly for the staff, students, and parents of Pella Middle School. The Pella Police Department and
the entire City of Pella stand with and support them during this difficult time. This agency acknowledges
the responsibility of keeping our citizens informed throughout this investigation and will continue to
share information as it is received.

On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 7:41 a.m., the Pella Police Department was alerted to a situation
involving a student at Pella Middle School who was reportedly armed with a knife. Officers quickly
responded to the scene. Law enforcement officers secured the area within two minutes and placed one
juvenile into custody at 7:43 a.m. The juvenile was held in the custody of officers until he was
transported to the Pella Police Department at 7:58 a.m.

An investigation revealed that a 14-year-old male student at Pella Middle School brought a large kitchen
knife to the school and attacked three students in the cafeteria. The male student first attacked a
student, striking her in the neck and back several times with the knife. He then lunged with the knife to
strike a second student but was unsuccessful; he then successfully struck a third student, striking her
with the knife in the arm. Two students sustained minor laceration-type injuries but did not require
medical transport. Personnel from the Pella Community Ambulance were on-site and treated the injured
students. Pella Middle School staff reunited the victims and several other students with their parents.

Juvenile referrals for the 14-year-old male offender were filed with the juvenile court for the following
crimes:
• Three counts of Attempt to Commit Murder, a Class B Felony
• Two counts of Willful Injury, a Class D Felony
• One count of Assault with Intent to Inflict a Serious Injury, an Aggravated Misdemeanor
• One count of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon by a Minor, a Serious Misdemeanor

The investigation into this matter is ongoing. We ask any students or parents with information to
contact the Pella Police Department.

We wish to thank our partners at the Pella Community Ambulance, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office,
Marion County Emergency Management, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Marion County Attorney’s
Office for their assistance with the response and investigation.

Finally, we wish to express our gratitude for the courageous actions of the Pella Middle School staff,
who jumped into action and stood between the juvenile offender and the students. School staff
members quickly persuaded the juvenile offender to exit the building and worked to ensure the safety
of the students at the school.

The Pella Police Department wishes to remind everyone that a juvenile referral is merely an
accusation, and all persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.