Security beefed up at Gustine school after stabbing attack

New security measures and several crisis counselors greeted students Friday at Gustine Elementary School, a day after the principal was slashed in the face with a box cutter by two men who remain at large.

Principal Ismael Munoz, 37, suffered a 4-inch laceration to his cheek Thursday afternoon, just moments before students were scheduled to be released from school for the day, the Gustine Police Department said.

Immediately after the attack Thursday, Munoz, who apparently had blood gushing from his face, raced back into the office and ordered the school lockdown to make sure students remained safe, Police Chief Doug Dunford confirmed.

“He was running, holding his cheek and told them to call 911 and lock the school down,” Dunford said.

Munoz was treated and released from a regional hospital and was said to be recovering at home Friday.

No arrests have been made, and no official suspect descriptions have been released by police. The motive for the attack remained unclear.

Officers on Friday continued combing through security camera footage to see whether the incident was recorded. Dunford said investigators had yet to locate “anything useful.”

Police said no students were targeted in the attack or were ever in any danger, in large part because school staff responded well and kept the children inside.

Ronald Estes, superintendent of the Gustine Unified School District, said additional security measures were added Friday. He said officials will continue examining safety policies and procedures to further limit access to the campus.

Estes said parents are now required to wait for their children outside the school’s security gates, and students are sent out to their parents under staff supervision.

“This was actually a step that was already scheduled to begin Monday. Mr. Munoz had planned to implement this precaution already, but we put it in (Friday) because of what happened,” Estes said. “We also have three counselors on campus for the students and additional police and security personnel.”

Sunny Phillips, whose son Kevin is a third-grade pupil at the school, said she was pleased with how school staff responded to the incident, especially Munoz. “As a parent, I really have a lot of respect that while he was hurt with a really deep laceration he still put the children first and made sure they were safe,” Phillips said.

Phillips arrived on campus Thursday just moments after the attack. She and a man searched for the suspects without luck. She said that although the incident was “scary” and “upsetting,” the way the staff responded to the danger actually gave her more confidence in the school.

Phillips on Friday said students and parents were still worried, but she was confident the community would “pull together.”

This story was originally published December 5, 2014 at 4:39 PM with the headline "Security beefed up at Gustine school after stabbing attack."