Gustine Elementary School students witnessed box cutter attack on principal

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A shaken North Valley school community is coming together after two men slashed the face of a principal on campus in front of young children. Police are following up on new leads after the disturbing attack at Gustine Elementary School.

Anxious parents picked up their kids on Friday, less than 24 hours after police say that two men armed with a box cutter sliced the principal's face. The assault caused an immediate lockdown of the elementary school campus.

Sunny Phillips, the parent of a Gustine Elementary student, said, "It's scary. It could have been one of our kids. We are a really close knit family. These are our babies. They didn't deserve to see this or see anything like this."

Action News has learned about six students were only a few feet away but none of them were hurt before the attackers ran away. Sunny Phillips' son Kevin Haile was inside a classroom. He now worries about coming to school, saying, "You just never know when they are going to come again. I could be the next victim."

Counselors are helping all students deal with the frightening experience. Superintendent Ronald Estes said the school will start a new security measure on Monday where only staff and students will be allowed past the gate. He added the gate would remain closed and would be opened to let the children out rather than having people on campus.

Officers say they will keep patrolling the neighborhood. They canvassed the area overnight to talk to witnesses, and police say the tips are already coming in.

Meanwhile, the victim, Principal Munoz, is expected to be on medical leave for about a week. Students like Kevin Haile can't wait to give him a hug when he returns.

"I want him to feel like we really care about him and we want him to feel better," said Haile.

There's a special meeting scheduled on Monday at the school's cafeteria to address any concerns parents may have.