Student Arrested In ‘Gang-Related’ Stabbing At Onate High

A 16-year-old Onate High School student accused of stabbing a classmate was arrested Monday following what investigators are calling a gang-related fight in one of the school’s parking lots.

Johnny David Dennis was waiting by the bus stop after the two had a dispute during lunch and agreed to fight after school, investigators said.

When the unidentified victim arrived, police said Dennis pulled out a butterfly knife and stabbed him in the abdomen.

A Las Cruces police school resource officer who was nearby immediately broke up the fight and recovered the knife.

The victim was initially taken to the school?s office, but was flown to University Medical Center of El Paso. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Dennis was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers said Dennis was in possession of a glass pipe used for smoking marijuana, which he acknowledged doing earlier in the day. Dennis was booked into the juvenile section of the Dona Ana County Detention Center.