Search resumes for Stagg High School student in Calaveras River in Stockton

STOCKTON, Calif. — The search for a 15-year-old Stagg High School student resumed Thursday along the Calaveras River after he jumped into the water Wednesday afternoon.

“We still have hope. We’re not able to release his name at this very moment. We hope to soon, but what we’ll say is we still have hope that he’s out there and he is just scared and not coming forward,” said Michelle Rodriguez, the Stockton Unified School District superintendent.

Drones and robots have been used in the search, according to Rodriguez. The Stockton Unified School District said there are extra counselors at Stagg High School.

According to the Stockton Unified School District, there was a fight just after 2 p.m. Wednesday on the Stagg High School campus. The school district said four boys were possibly involved in the initial fight. Two of the students were wearing ski masks, according to Melinda Meza, the district spokesperson.

The district said when administrators tried to approach them, two teenagers took off and jumped into the water. One of the teenagers came up, but crews are still searching for the other teenager. Meza said the school resource officer didn’t chase after the students. 

Mayra Franco, captain of the SUSD Department of Public Safety, said by the time the school resource officer approached the levee, the students were already at the middle island, meaning they had already crossed the initial waterway.

A spokesperson for the Stockton Unified School District said the teenager who didn’t resurface was a 15-year-old Stagg High School student who attended the campus weekly and did his work independently. The student’s identities haven’t been released.

After hours of searching, deputies with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office suspended their search Wednesday night until daylight hours.

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