Lansdale teen charged with attempted murder after stabbing his siblings at a playground, DA says

A 15-year-old Lansdale boy has been charged as an adult with attempted murder and aggravated assault after authorities say he repeatedly stabbed his two siblings at a playground in Hatfield late Monday.

Nathan Serrano, 15, was arrested not long after the attack and remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Investigators were called to the Oak Park Elementary School about 5:30 p.m., when the children’s mother contacted police to say that Serrano, her oldest son, had attacked her daughter and younger son, according to the affidavit of probable cause for the teen’s arrest.

She told the officers that Serrano suffers from schizophrenia and that she didn’t know where he was.

Officers who arrived at the school found Serrano’s 13-year-old brother suffering from 15 stab wounds to his hands, face, and chest, the affidavit said. The boy had also been stabbed in the back, and was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital. He underwent surgery there, and remained in critical but stable condition Tuesday, according to prosecutors.

Nearby, the officers found Serrano’s 9-year-old sister, who suffered a stab wound to the head. They also recovered the knife believed to have been used in the attack, the affidavit said. The girl was treated for her injuries and released.

Surveillance footage from a camera at the school showed Serrano chasing his younger brother and stabbing him multiple times after the boy lost his footing and fell to the ground, according to the affidavit. When his sister tried to intervene, Serrano attacked her, and at one point attempted to cut her throat, the affidavit said. She ran, but he chased her and when she fell to the ground, he stabbed her, authorities said.

Serrano then ran from the school, and was arrested not long after at a nearby home, authorities said.

His attorney, Michael Drossner, said mental health agencies had been in contact with the family to ensure the teen receives proper treatment.

“This is a tragedy for the family, and I think all of us in the community should be thinking about them and how to help them,” Drossner said. “This is not a case the criminal justice system handles often.”