PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Lydia Hernandez Mourns Maryvale Student, Calls for Action After Horrific Attack

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                  

August 20, 2025

PHOENIX – Rep. Lydia Hernandez released the following statement after the devastating news of a Maryvale student’s death on Tuesday.

“Yesterday morning, a young Maryvale High School student lost his life at the hands of another while in the classroom.  This is not only alarming but devastating to me as a mother protective of her children.  First of all, I offer my sincere prayers and condolences to the families impacted by this violent situation.

My children attended Maryvale High School and as a parent I was the first one there to advocate for them always and feel the need to do the same for all involved. I learned of the sequence of events yesterday as there were helicopters and massive police presence down my block. I live one block from Maryvale High School on Osborn Road. Parents raced down to the high school upon learning of the event that took place.  Families wanted answers and were extremely panicked as they feared for their children’s lives. Information was not forthcoming as with any ongoing emergency situation. This was the longest three hours of their lives as they waited for their kids to be released. Parents, community members, officials, all alike struggled to learn and assess what took place.

Today, I awoke to calls from neighbors and visits in my front lawn to talk about a call to action. Parents are upset in the wake of assessment and digestion of what just happened.  The escalation of violence in our schools, neighborhoods, city, state and across the nation is not new and continues to rise. We need to ensure that we have prepared leadership and funding for behavioral and mental health in all schools.  The stabbing at Maryvale High School could have been prevented. Violence strikes a personal chord with me, and I will not remain quiet for political correctness.

It is critically imperative that we put politics aside and provide our schools with the necessary resources to ensure that all our children succeed and have the opportunity to become contributive members of society.  As a legislature elected by the people and for the people; I am asking for my colleagues at the state legislature to support not only legislation that invest in families but also for a budget that is intentional and strategic about it. I continue in my commitment to our Arizona families.  May god be with us in this journey.”

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