Gustine school principal slashed with box cutter; suspects sought

Gustine police are searching for two men who slashed the face of Gustine Elementary School’s principal Thursday afternoon.

Ismael Munoz, age unavailable, suffered a 4-inch laceration to his left cheek and was taken to a regional hospital for treatment, the Gustine Police Department confirmed.

An update on his condition was not available Thursday, but his injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

Gustine police Chief Doug Dunford said Munoz was attacked about 2:48 p.m. at the elementary school on Grove Avenue by two men who remain at large. The motive for the attack remained unclear Thursday evening, Dunford said.

“That’s what we’re trying to determine right now,” he said. “He’s a new principal and has only been here about three or four months. He’s new to the area.”

Descriptions of the suspects were unclear Thursday. Officers were working to obtain security-camera footage from the school, police said.

“They approached him and asked about a student by first name only,” Dunford said. “But there is no student at that school with the name they were asking about.”

Dunford said one of the men distracted Munoz while the other man pulled a weapon, described as box cutter, and slashed Munoz’s face. The two men left immediately after the attack and were last seen running west on Meredith Avenue.

Gustine Unified School District Superintendent Ronald Estes said Munoz was attacked just outside the school’s main office. Estes said the incident would likely prompt district officials to review all safety policies and procedures as an additional precaution.

“In all my time (in public education) I’ve never heard of such a thing happening, and there just doesn’t seem to be any reason for it in this case,” Estes said. “It’s something we’re definitely going to have to get to the bottom of.”

Police said the school was locked down for a short time as a security precaution.

“We do not believe any students were intended targets or were ever in any danger,” Dunford said.

Melanie Gomes, Gustine Unified board president, said she was shocked by the attack and that nothing similar has ever occurred at Gustine schools.

“We’re a very safe school. I’m pleased the staff diligently did their jobs and made sure the students and the parents who were on campus at the time remained safe,” Gomes said.

Gomes noted that staff and students receive training routinely to help maintain safety in such incidents and said the training paid off Thursday.

About 570 students from kindergarten to fifth grade attend the elementary school, district officials estimated.

Munoz was hired as principal about two months ago. He was previously an assistant principal at a school in Madera County, district officials confirmed.

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Gustine school principal slashed with box cutter; suspects sought."