9-year-old stabbed in face by 8-year-old at school

HOUSTON -- An east Houston mother is demanding answers after her nine-year-old child was stabbed in the face several times by another student in an after-school program.

"They said I'm tough," said nine-year-old Saniya Jones.

Saniya and her friend started arguing at an after-school program at Pleasantville Elementary. One thing led to another, and an eight-year-old stabbed Saniya multiple times with a pair of children's scissors.

School officials didn't call 911. They called grandma.

"It was like a crime scene," said Saniya's grandmother Faye Dorron. "There wasn't nobody at the front when I got there. I tracked the blood to this back room and that's where I found Naya."

Grandma and mom rushed her to LBJ Hospital, where Saniya got 20 stitches.

"She lost a lot of blood," said her mother Sharina Smith. "She could've died because we didn't know exactly what was going on. I need to know why wasn't any emergency services contacted."

HISD officials say the situation didn't seem serious enough for an ambulance, and pointed out that the family lives just a few blocks from school.

As for the eight-year-old, she has been disciplined at school, but she's too young to legally face criminal charges.

HISD STATEMENT

A Pleasantville Elementary third grader was injured Monday during a brief altercation with a classmate. Administrators quickly intervened. The safety of students and staff is always HISD's top priority. Appropriate disciplinary action is being taken per the HISD Student Code of Conduct.

Background Information

According to state law, a child under 10 years old cannot face criminal charges. Furthermore, the district attorney has to approve any charges for children 10 years old or older.