Matt Gress, a House Representative from Arizona, emphasized the importance of ensuring safe schools following the death of a Maryvale High School student. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
“Heartbroken for the family of the Maryvale High School student whose life was cut short today,” said Matthew Owen Gress, State Representative from Arizona. “No parent should ever endure such a loss. Every student and teacher in Arizona deserves safe schools. Protecting that environment must remain a top priority.”
School safety in Arizona has become a pressing issue after a fatal stabbing at Maryvale High School in Phoenix on August 19, 2025. One student was killed and another hospitalized during the incident. According to reports by People and ABC15, this event has intensified discussions about the use of metal detectors, resource officers, and whether more funding should be allocated to mental health services instead of surveillance-focused security measures. Officials are advocating for a comprehensive review of how schools handle violence prevention.
Arizona schools reportedly face over 500 gun-violence threats annually, as highlighted by KJZZ. ABC15 reported that the Arizona Youth Survey found that 10% of students were threatened with a weapon at school in 2022, marking a significant increase from 2018 when only 5.6% reported such threats. These statistics underscore growing safety concerns despite ongoing statewide prevention efforts.
Nationally, violent incidents in schools continue to be significant despite long-term declines. The74Million cited federal data indicating that students experienced 15.6 victimizations per 1,000 in 2022, down from 24 in 2018. However, YouthToday noted that during the 2021–22 school year, there were still 857,500 recorded violent incidents in schools nationwide, with 67% reporting at least one incident and 4% involving weapons.
Gress represents Arizona’s 4th District and was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2022, beginning his term in January 2023. He is a former teacher and school board member who has also worked in state budget planning. His policy priorities include increasing teacher pay, improving education funding, and addressing homelessness and safety issues within schools.
