Student stays in school after stabbing classmate

HEPHZIBAH - School administrators defended a decision to allow a Hephzibah High School student accused of stabbing a classmate to remain in school for the rest of the day. <br> <br> Joshua Michael Duncan, 18, was arrested Wednesday after the father of Chris Young, 16, called the Richmond County Sheriff&#39;s Office about his son receiving a 2-inch wound in his lower back during a metalworks class about 11 a.m. Tuesday. <br> <br> Duncan was charged with aggravated assault, and school officials suspended him Wednesday for 10 days. Young also was suspended for 10 days and was charged with battery, accused of hitting Duncan during the fight. <br> <br> School public safety officers chose not to file criminal charges Tuesday because they were unable to obtain statements from both students, Richmond County schools&#39; spokesman Justin Martin said. <br> <br> ``We did everything by the book,&#39;&#39; Martin said. He said school officials notified parents and called an ambulance to treat the injured student. <br> <br> The students fought after paint from a spray-paint can Duncan was handling got on Young, Richmond County sheriff&#39;s Maj. Ken Autry said. <br> <br> Young was stabbed with a scribe, a pointed instrument used for marking an object to show where it is to be cut, Autry said.