Santa Rosa school district settles for $6.25M after deadly stabbing
District settles with families after deadly stabbing in Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa City Schools has agreed to pay $6.25 million to settle lawsuits involving the families of two students caught in a deadly March 2023 stabbing at Montgomery High School.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. - Santa Rosa City Schools has agreed to pay $6.25 million to settle lawsuits involving the families of two students caught in a deadly March 2023 stabbing at Montgomery High School.
Student killed in fight
What we know:
The settlement resolves legal action brought by the family of 16-year-old Jayden Pienta, who was killed in the fight, and the family of Daniel Pulido, the 15-year-old student who stabbed him. Jayden believed Daniel had slashed his tires.
The families' lawsuits alleged negligence on the part of the school district, arguing that officials failed to take sufficient action as tension between the two boys grew.
Jayden was fatally stabbed during a fight inside an art classroom on March 1, 2023.
Mother of injured teen whose friend was fatally stabbed at school speaks out
The mother of a 16-year-old boy who survived a stabbing at a Santa Rosa high school but whose friend was killed said Thursday that the school failed to address earlier fights involving a 15-year-old boy accused in the attack.
Daniel was initially charged with voluntary manslaughter, but a judge later determined Jayden was the initial aggressor and that Daniel acted in self-defense.
Santa Rosa City Schools said $3.5 million dollars will go to Jayden's family, and $2.75 million will be paid to Daniel's family. The district said the payout is covered by a self-funded, pooled insurance program.
Jayden's death sparked intense community debate over school safety protocols and the previous removal of school resource officers from district campuses.
Police and district say safety paramount
What's next:
In a statement, the district said it has implemented several changes since the stabbing to evaluate and strengthen safety measures across all schools.
"Of course, no legal resolution can ease the profound trauma and loss experienced by Jayden and Daniel’s family and friends, and the loss of Jayden remains a heartbreaking tragedy for the entire Montgomery High School community," the statement said. "Our thoughts continue to be with both families and all those affected."
Santa Rosa police Sgt. Patricia Seffens said the stabbing happened when there were no school resource officers on campus. The school board had removed them in 2020 in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Student killed in Santa Rosa school stabbing identified
Relatives of Jayden Pienta spoke about how they are reeling from the 16-year-old's alleged slaying by a fellow student at Santa Rosa's Montgomery High School.
But those officers could soon return to middle and high school campuses.
"Currently we do have the MOU, now comes time to find funding for it. So the schools, as well as the city and the department, are all looking for different ways to fund this program," Seffens said.
She noted, "Any time a student brings a weapon to school, it is a significant threat that the schools, as well as the police department, take seriously."
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on X @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan