AZ lawmaker, her daughter brought box cutter into Maryvale High School to test weapons detection system: PXU

PHOENIX - An Arizona state lawmaker and her daughter allegedly tried to smuggle a box cutter into Maryvale High School to test its weapons detection system. The incident comes days after a student died after being stabbed inside a classroom.

The backstory:

On Aug. 19, police say a school safety officer at the school was alerted by staff members that two students got into a fight in a classroom.

"The officer was directed to the administration building, where he detained one of the students involved," police said. "A second student was located by officers and firefighters suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was quickly treated on scene and rushed to the hospital, where he died from his injuries."

The victim was later identified as 16-year-old Michael Montoya II. The suspect in the deadly stabbing, 16-year-old Chris Aguilar, was arrested and booked into jail. He's accused of second-degree murder and is being charged as an adult.

What we know:

The Phoenix Union High School District says Lydia Hernandez and her adult daughter, Cassandra Hernandez, caused a disruption on Aug. 25 by "knowingly bringing an unauthorized weapon onto campus."

The district says Hernandez and her daughter recorded on their phones as they tried to pass a box cutter through the school's weapons detectors. The alarm was activated during the incident and the box cutter was found.

"At this time, Lydia told the staff that she was video recording the interaction and that she was testing the weapon detection systems," PXU said in a news release.

Both Hernandez and her daughter were escorted out of the main office and were asked to leave campus. 

Lydia Hernandez is a Democratic state lawmaker representing District 24, which includes Maryvale High School. She is also the president of the Cartwright School District's governing board. Cassandra Hernandez is also a governing board member. Neither are parents of Maryvale High School students.

‘This is a slap in the face’

What they're saying:

FOX 10 spoke with Phoenix City Council members Betty Guardado and Anna Hernandez, who are calling for both women to step down from their positions.

"I honestly and strongly believe that Lydia should step down. Her and her daughter have no good intentions on doing this. This was about them. This was not about the families," said Guardado.

"This is very serious. This is very serious. We're talking about the loss of life of a student, of a member of our community. For her to do this, this is a slap in the face to those families, to the entire community," said Hernandez.

The two do not represent the Maryvale district and do not have children who attend the school.

"I am outraged," Guardado said.

Maryvale resident Susanna said the alleged actions by Lydia Hernandez were "disrespectful because it's too recent for what happened."

"This is outrageous. Outrageous for a state representative, a fellow elected official, to do this a week after this community has experienced trauma," Hernandez said.

Arizona Sen. Analise Ortiz said the actions by Hernandez were a "charade" that "distracts from the real work that has to be done to reassure families to keep the community safe."

Arizona Schools Superintendent Tom Horne also released a statement calling the action "unbelievably insensitive to the trauma that was inflicted on the students, teachers and staff of that school. These two board members should resign immediately."

'Phoenix Union has recklessly sullied my name'

Lydia and Cassandra Hernandez have both released statements, denying PXU's allegations regarding the incident. 

Lydia Hernandez's statement: "On Monday, August 25th, I visited Maryvale High School to assist some constituents who were at the school attempting to get answers and resources after the recent deadly stabbing. Some of those mothers were concerned they were being detained by school personnel and asked me to join them and to intervene.

I got in line to enter the school, and I went through the metal detector without incident. The mother ahead of me, who was part of the group of constituents who called me had a metal object in her bag and was asked to empty her purse. At no time did I attempt to document the incident with my cell phone, nor did I have any knowledge that there was an object in her purse to begin with. I did not take video nor make any statements that I was testing the security systems at Maryvale High School.

I call on Phoenix Union High School to release the surveillance video that will show I did not attempt to bring a boxcutter, let alone any type of weapon, into the school, nor attempt to test the security systems.

Phoenix Union misrepresented what happened that day, and an independent investigation needs to occur to clear my name and hold those responsible for these lies to account.

It is truly unfortunate that, as we work to heal from the recent tragedy at Maryvale High School, the Phoenix Union School District has chosen to direct attention towards me rather than address the crucial and unanswered questions surrounding school safety."

Cassandra Hernandez's statement: "I was working an eight-hour shift Aug. 25 at EOS Fitness at the time of this alleged incident and have the time cards and video footage from my employer to prove it. Phoenix Union has recklessly sullied my name in an attempt to politicize the tragedy that occurred at Maryvale High School. Phoenix Union Superintendent Thea Andrade must be held to account and resign for reckless and defamatory actions of the district.

During a week in which my community is hurting because of a senseless killing at Maryvale High School, I have been wrongly accused of creating a disturbance and attempting to introduce a weapon onto school grounds. Nothing short of a retraction, an apology, and an independent investigation will suffice.

The reckless action by Phoenix Union created a hostile environment for me as people now believe I attempted to bring a weapon onto Maryvale campus. I will not rest until my good name is restored and those who lied to the public are held to account."

What's next:

The Phoenix Police Department says it has opened an investigation into the incident.

PXU says it is reviewing evidence, video surveillance and witness statements, and "will pursue all legal options, including pressing charges and trespassing the individuals from coming back to our campuses."

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