Campus Alert Archive
LSC-CyFair

X-Acto Knife and a Scalpel: 14 Wounded in a Community College Stabbing Spree Stopped by Students

TXstabbingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On April 9, 2013, student Dylan Quick, 20, used an X-Acto knife and scalpel to stab 14 people at Lone Star College Cy-Fair in Cypress, Texas. The attack began outside the Health Science Center around 11:12 AM CDT and moved through multiple buildings. Four fellow students tackled and subdued Quick in the parking lot before police arrived. Most victims suffered stab wounds to the head or neck.

Alerts
3
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
14
Institution
Lone Star College - Cy-Fair
Community College · TX
~20,000 studentsLSC Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Verified verbatimHouston Public Media, quoting the LSC-CyFair initial alarm text180 chars
Two armed suspects at LSC-CyFair. One suspect is at large. Stay away from the area. Seek shelter in a secure location until the incident is resolved. Be aware of your surroundings.
The initial alert incorrectly reported two armed suspects, a common error in chaotic mass-casualty events where witness reports get conflated
The alert described 'armed suspects' rather than a stabbing attack, which may have caused confusion about the nature of the threat
Authorities were notified at approximately 11:12 AM CDT and the campus alert went out about a minute later, an unusually fast notification for a 2013 community-college system
UPDATESMS
Approximate reconstruction153 chars
LSC ALERT UPDATE: Suspect in custody at LSC-CyFair. Campus remains on lockdown. Multiple injuries reported. Avoid the area. Emergency personnel on scene.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The suspect was subdued by four fellow students in the parking lot before police arrived, highlighting the role of bystander intervention in campus attacks
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction253 chars
LSC ALERT: The lockdown at LSC-CyFair has been lifted. The suspect is in custody. Cy-Fair campus and seven surrounding schools that were on lockdown have been cleared. Classes are canceled for the remainder of the day. Counseling services are available.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Seven surrounding schools were also placed on lockdown during the incident, showing the community-wide impact of campus violence
Context

Background

The Lone Star College Cy-Fair stabbing was one of the most significant mass casualty events at a community college in the United States. Dylan Quick later told investigators he had fantasized about stabbing people since elementary school and had researched mass stabbings online before the attack. The incident occurred just three months after a shooting at another Lone Star College campus, North Harris, on January 22, 2013. Quick was convicted and sentenced to 48 years in prison in December 2015. The case is notable for the role of bystander intervention, as four students tackled Quick in the parking lot, ending the attack before law enforcement arrived on scene.
Analysis

Key Findings

The initial alert incorrectly reported two armed suspects, demonstrating how fog-of-war conditions in mass casualty events distort early reports
Four students physically subdued the attacker before police arrived, a significant example of bystander intervention
This was the second mass casualty event in the Lone Star College system in three months, following the January 2013 North Harris shooting
The attacker used an X-Acto knife and scalpel, weapons that would not be flagged by standard security screenings
Outcome
All 14 victims survived. Dylan Quick was arrested on scene and later pleaded guilty to attempted capital murder and aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 48 years in prison.
Provenance

Sources

  1. reference
    2013 Lone Star College stabbing - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org
  2. News
    14 Wounded During Lone Star College Stabbing - Houston Public Media
    houstonpublicmedia.org
  3. national media
    14 People Stabbed at Lone Star Community College - ABC News
    abcnews.go.com
  4. News
    Man convicted in Lone Star College stabbings receives 48-year prison sentence
    click2houston.com
Tags
stabbingcommunity-collegemass-casualtytexasbystander-interventionmultiple-victims
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion