Student Armed with a Knife Detained at Straub Middle School

SALEM, Ore. -- On September 9, 2026, at approximately 3:47 p.m., officers were dispatched to Straub Middle School in West Salem following a report of a 16-year-old student at the Behavioral Health Center armed with a knife.

The student was reportedly showing signs of escalated behavior during which time he was able to get access to a knife and had reportedly used the knife to damage property at the school. School staff were able to separate the juvenile from other students as officers were responding.

Salem Police and Oregon State Police responded quickly. As they arrived on scene it was reported the student was no longer armed with the knife but was trying to escape. Officers were able to rapidly enter the room and detain the student.

No one at the school was injured by the knife during the incident. The student was taken to the Salem Hospital Emergency Department for a behavioral health evaluation.

Thank you to the Oregon State Police who were in the area at the time of the call and responded with Salem officers.

The investigation is ongoing.

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