Details emerge on suspect in Spring Valley HS stabbing

SPRING VALLEY – Details have emerged on the suspect in last Tuesday’s non-fatal stabbing at Spring Valley and his possible motivations as Rockland’s District Attorney formally announced charges levied against the teen.

Christopher Bermeo, 16, of Spring Valley, was charged by a grand jury with one count of second-degree attempted murder, a class B felony, one count of first-degree attempted assault, a class C felony and one count of second-degree attempted assault, a class D felony. His bail has been set at $500,000.

Bermeo was arrested at his home shortly after he allegedly stabbed another 17-year-old student with a penknife four times during a verbal argument. The student, whose wounds were deemed non-life threatening, was rushed to the hospital and was released on Wednesday, but re-admitted on Friday due to complications.

Speaking for their client, Bermeo’s attorneys have claimed he was acting in self-defense and in response to persistent bullying, though both Spring Valley police and East Ramapo school officials dispute that claim and argue no record of bullying reports exist involving the two individuals. Bermeo did have a record of relatively minor infractions including cutting class and use of a cell phone on school grounds.

District Attorney Thomas Zugibe assured that the case would be “vigorously prosecuted” and announced that his office plans to try Bermeo as an adult.