Update: Two girls may face charges after Cortez student is stabbed

Police investigating assault
Cortez police officers interviewed several female high school students on Friday afternoon east of Walmart after a student was stabbed in the leg.

A male Montezuma-Cortez High School student was stabbed in the leg in an assault on Friday near Walmart. Police say there are two juvenile female suspects.

Cortez Police Lt. Andy Brock said Monday morning that a female suspect was charged and released on Friday, and he believes another female suspect will be charged. He said the police report is still in draft form and officers will conduct interviews.

“It’s all amongst juveniles, and there’s still arrests to be made,” he said.

The male victim was transported to the emergency room by ambulance on Friday. Brock did not have information on the severity of the wound or of a motive. He said one of the students took a video of the assault but as of Monday morning, police did not have access to the video.

About 1 p.m. Friday, police officers interviewed female high school students near the intersection of Cactus Street and East Third Street.

About 1:20 p.m., a police officer left the Walmart parking lot and drove to nearby Big R Stores parking lot, where officers detained a female that police believe was involved in the incident.

Montezuma-Cortez High School sent out a notification email to parents Friday afternoon, informing them that there was no known threat to students at the time.

“Safety remains a top priority for our school and students and we will continue to follow our safety plan and protocols,” Debra Ramsey, secretary to the high school principal, wrote.

sdolan@the-journal.com