Alicia McElhaney

USATODAY

The news of a tragedy is quickly followed by stories of heroes.

In Murrysville, Pa., today, students at Franklin Regional High School are saying sophomore Nate Scimio was one.

Trinity McCool, a sophomore, told USA TODAY he protected her and another friend as a fellow student rampaged through the school, stabbing and slashing. By the time it was over and the student was in custody, 20 people had been sent to two hospitals.

The two girls, hanging at their lockers before class, had seen what they thought was a fight going on down the hall.

Suddenly, chaos and blood.

"The guy next to me was Nate Scimio," Trinity said. "I'm not sure if he already got stabbed."

The student with knives came toward them.

"I don't know if Nate did it on purpose or just instinct," she said. "He took the stab right in his arm and saved my friend and me.

"I'm pretty sure it was his instinct. He didn't want anyone to get hurt.

"He told everybody to run away. I'm pretty sure he pulled the fire alarm."

Nate couldn't be reached. He was in the hospital.

Judging by the selfie he posted on Instagram, he was doing OK.

Of the 20 injured, which include 19 students and a security guard, at least 12 people were hospitalized with serious injuries, many with deep puncture wounds to the abdomen, hospital officials said.

The guard was stabbed in the stomach during the ordeal, but was treated and released from the hospital, police and hospital officials confirmed.

Murrysville Police Chief Thomas Seefeld said the suspect, who is in custody, was being treated for injuries to his hand. The 16-year-old sophomore was tackled by Assistant Principal Sam King and handcuffed by a security guard, he said.

Mia Meixner, a sophomore, told USA TODAY that she was putting her books away near the cafeteria when she heard a commotion and saw the male suspect "stabbing people on top of a freshman." Meixner, who described the suspect as "really shy," said he "always kept to himself."

"He didn't talk to many people," she said. "He wasn't mean or anything, he just wasn't outgoing."

Mexiner said the suspect did not appear to be targeting anyone in particular.