Attempted murder charge in Spring Valley HS stabbing

SPRING VALLEY – A 16-year-old Spring Valley student says he was defending himself from a bully after he was charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing a fellow student multiple times at the high school Tuesday morning.

Christopher Bermeo, who was handcuffed at his arraignment before Village Justice Christine Theodore, was ordered held on $500,000 bail.

Bermeo, who lives in Spring Valley with his father, had been bullied by the 17-year-old stabbing victim over the past 3 1/2 weeks, said public defender Andre Vital, who appeared for him at the arraignment.

"In fear for his safety, he defended himself," Vital told the judge.

Assistant Rockland County District Attorney Michael Dugandzic downplayed that version of events and called Bermeo a "significant flight risk" and, "more importantly, a serious public safety risk." He told Theodore that the suspect also faces a pending robbery charge from several months ago.

Bermeo allegedly stabbed the 17-year-old student — identified publicly only as G.S. — in the school's language wing about 8:40 a.m. The injured student ran outside, bleeding, after he was stabbed four times: in the arm, back, shoulder and abdomen.

The victim was admitted to Nyack Hospital. Police Chief Paul Modica said the teen's wounds were not life-threatening, but he suffered "four violent stabs that went pretty deep."

"He got four puncture wounds and the one to the abdomen is the most concerning at this point," Modica said.

The victim identified his attacker to police, who found Bermeo at his home, Modica said.

"What we've been hearing is that these two had words over a period of time and it escalated inside the school," Modica said.

A related incident occurred Tuesday when a friend of the victim entered a classroom and fought with a friend of Bermeo's, Modica said. No one was immediately charged in that incident.

School security director Tom Carton said he had not had any contact with the two students before Tuesday.

The school was placed on lockdown immediately after the stabbing; it was lifted by mid-morning. The school added security for the remainder of the day.

Rhonda Payne went to the school to pick up her son after hearing what had happened.

"I'm very disappointed and distraught," she said. "Children come here to get an education. Can't we all just get along?"

Her son, Armani Bent, 15, said he was "shocked" when he heard what had happened. The sophomore said he knew one of the students involved but didn't know the details of what led up to the stabbing.

"In my opinion violence was not necessary," he said.

Police were on hand as the school dismissed Tuesday afternoon.

Student Edenis Augustin, 17, said as he left school that he'd heard and read about violence at other schools but, "I guess it's kind of scary, that something like this can happen so close."

"It's really disappointing that this happened at our school," said Skylar Hubert, 16, another student. "Things like this shouldn't happen."

Twitter: @lohudlegal