Parents charged with stabbing at elementary school, injured principal appears in court

CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A man accused of stabbing an elementary school principal to death Thursday appeared before a Cabell County judge Friday morning.

Joshua Collins, 43, of Huntington, is accused of stabbing South Point Elementary principal Bill Christian.

The violent incident occurred on Thursday, October 24th.

Collins was booked into the Western Regional Jail at 7:45 p.m. Thursday after being released from a hospital in Huntington.

Collins is awaiting extradition to Lawrence County, Ohio, but must face a Cabell County district judge for an extradition hearing.

WSAZ learned Friday morning that the trial could take two to three weeks.

According to new information released by law enforcement, Collins first stopped by the front office of the school on Thursday, where he was met by Principal Christian in the hallway just outside the office door.

Deputies say Collins was upset over a custody issue. While the two were talking, officers said Collins pulled out a knife and stabbed Christian in the neck and torso.

According to officials, the director then ran back into the office behind a locked door. However, officers say Collins then broke the door's window and entered the office.

Collins ran after the principal through the office and then into the cafeteria, where he was confronted and arrested by a South Point police officer.

The school nurse began treating Principal Christian before he was taken to the hospital for treatment. At last check his condition was found to be serious.

According to officials, Collins suffered cuts to his arms in the incident and was also taken to the hospital in Huntington.

Deputies say that once Collins is back in Lawrence County, Ohio, he will be arraigned and that additional charges will be filed in the case.

The school was placed on lockdown during the incident. No children were injured.

Classes were canceled at South Point Elementary on Friday due to the incident.

Christian is in stable but serious condition in hospital.

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