A Kutztown University student has been charged in an alleged accidental stabbing that occurred at Rothermel Hall on KU’s campus at 10:34 p.m. on Oct. 17.
Mark Johnson, 19, Harrisburg, has been charged with recklessly endangering another person for throwing a knife that caused serious bodily injury, according to the court documents released Oct. 26 from District Judge Gail Greth’s office in Fleetwood.
KU Police responded to the incident at 10:34 p.m. on Oct. 17 to a crime alert issued on Oct. 17 indicating that an accidental stabbing occurred in Rothermel Hall on campus involving two KU students. The 19-year old female victim was treated on site and rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital to treat a wound in her leg and was later reported to be in stable condition. KU Police were assisted by State Police.
“This was a serious situation, which could have been much worse,” Santos said. “We are extending our best wishes to the victim and her family for a full recovery, and commend university police for their swift action in handling the situation.”
According to witness reports in the court documents, a group of students were gathered in a room at Rothermel Hall watching Netflix when Johnson entered the room and started talking to everyone. Johnson then picked up someone’s pocket knife and began waving it around. Someone shouted to Johson and Johnson threw the knife which landed in the lap of a female student seated on a bed.
During police interviews, Johnson related that he picked up a pocket knife laying open on a mini fridge. He closed the knife and said he was going to throw the knife to one of the students. After throwing the knife, Johnson said he is not totally sure what happened but once he saw blood he went to get help.
“Based on investigation and information received, I found that the knife had penetrated (victim’s) left leg and struck an artery, causing the large amount of blood loss,” reported Kutztown University Police Corporal Justin Soumas in the court documents. “I was informed that (the victim) was having surgery to repair her leg.”
According to The Key, knives with blades longer than 3.5 inches are not permitted in the residence hall. Johnson is going through the judicial process, which is separate from the legal process, explained Santos. He has not been allowed in the residence halls, pending the outcome of the judicial hearing. He remains a student at Kutztown University.
