17-year-old charged in Sprayberry High School stabbing

 A 17-year-old Sprayberry High School student, Aedan Connor Smith, is in custody and an 18-year-old student is in critical condition after a stabbing at the school last week.

According to Cobb Police, Smith has been charged with aggravated assault and carrying a weapon in a school safety zone for allegedly stabbing fellow student Earl Nichols. Both students live in Marietta, according to a Police spokesperson.

Just after 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Cobb Police officers responded to reports of a person stabbed at Sprayberry High. Witnesses told police a fight occurred in a bathroom, and one of the involved parties produced a knife that was used to stab Nichols. When patrol officers arrived at the school, they located Nichols suffering from multiple puncture wounds likely caused by a knife. Medical aid was rendered, and Nichols was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, rushed to surgery and was listed in critical condition as of the last update.

Cobb Schools Police and Cobb Police officers worked to identify the suspects involved in the incident. Two suspects were detained before the Cobb Police Major Crimes Unit arrived at the school. Based on witness interviews, Aedan Smith was identified as the suspect who had been armed with the knife, and he was transported to Cobb County Police Headquarters and interviewed, after which he was arrested and transported to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. According to jail records, Aedan Smith is being held on $10,220 bond.