A 16-year-old high school junior was fatally stabbed to death this morning in the stairwell of the Jonathan Law High School in Milford, Connecticut after a dispute concerning a date for the junior prom.

The choking and stabbing of 16-year-old Maren Sanchez took place after she rejected a request of a prom date from,  according to witnesses at the school, her ex-boyfriend. When she refused, witnesses say the 16-year-old strangled and stabbed the young girl. The stabbing occurred shortly after 7 am on Friday morning. A member of the school staff attempted to intervene, but was too late to save the girl from the stabbing attack.

The girl was rushed to an area hospital by emergency responders, but efforts to save her were unsuccessful, and she passed away and was pronounced deceased at the hospital at 7:40 am.

The assailant was taken into custody immediately after the incident by a school resource officer.

Sanchez was heavily involved in school activities, and was an accomplished athlete according to school personnel. She was involved in the drama club, the class president, took part in the Key Club, and a member of the National Honor Society.

The attack this morning took place less than 12 hours before the scheduled start of the prom. That event has now been postponed because of the incident.

  connecticut, death, high school, jonathan law, maren sanchez, stabbing