By Sky News US Team
The teenager accused of a mass stabbing at a Pittsburgh-area school has been described as a shy student who kept to himself but was "not a loner".
For police probing the stabbings at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, the motive remains a mystery.
Alex Hribal, 16, has been charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
"He was never mean to anyone, and I never saw people be mean to him," said Mia Meixner, 16, a student at the school.
Wearing a hospital gown, Hribal leaves the police station
"I never saw him with a particular group of friends."
Nate Moore, a student whose face was slashed in the attack, said Hribal did not show any emotions during his rampage.
"He wasn't saying anything.
"He didn't have any anger on his face. It was just a blank expression."
Both students said that while Hribal was quiet, he was not an outcast and they saw no indication before the attack that he might be violent.
During a brief court appearance, Hribal stared at the floor and spoke only to answer the magistrate's questions.
He was denied bail after the district attorney said he was a threat to the community.
His lawyer painted a different picture.
"This is a nice young man, he's never been in trouble. He's not a loner. He works well with other kids at school," said Patrick Thomassey, who has asked for a psychiatric examination
"He's a typical young kid, he's a B-plus student," he said, adding that the suspect's parents "did not see this coming".
Hribal lives in a colonial home in Murrysville with his parents and a brother who is a junior at the high school, CBS reported.
Investigators looking for a clue went to the house to search the boy's computers.
Neighbours said they were stunned by the incident.
"The family is so nice. Very, very nice," said neighbour Lori Renda, 47, who added that the suspect played with her own children.
"I don't know him really well, but he's always said hi."
She said she had no idea what might have caused the rampage.
The Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville
Kaitlyn Pepper, a former student at Franklin who took part in a vigil for the victims, said she remembered Hribal from her time at the school.
"He was literally a shadow in the hallways.
"They said he had a girlfriend who goes to another school, but I don't know," she said.
"No one really knew of him. But they know him today."
The teenager accused of a mass stabbing at a Pittsburgh-area school has been described as a shy student who kept to himself but was "not a loner".
For police probing the stabbings at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, the motive remains a mystery.
Alex Hribal, 16, has been charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
"He was never mean to anyone, and I never saw people be mean to him," said Mia Meixner, 16, a student at the school.
Wearing a hospital gown, Hribal leaves the police station"I never saw him with a particular group of friends."
Nate Moore, a student whose face was slashed in the attack, said Hribal did not show any emotions during his rampage.
"He wasn't saying anything.
"He didn't have any anger on his face. It was just a blank expression."
Both students said that while Hribal was quiet, he was not an outcast and they saw no indication before the attack that he might be violent.
During a brief court appearance, Hribal stared at the floor and spoke only to answer the magistrate's questions.
He was denied bail after the district attorney said he was a threat to the community.
His lawyer painted a different picture.
"This is a nice young man, he's never been in trouble. He's not a loner. He works well with other kids at school," said Patrick Thomassey, who has asked for a psychiatric examination
"He's a typical young kid, he's a B-plus student," he said, adding that the suspect's parents "did not see this coming".
Hribal lives in a colonial home in Murrysville with his parents and a brother who is a junior at the high school, CBS reported.
Investigators looking for a clue went to the house to search the boy's computers.
Neighbours said they were stunned by the incident.
"The family is so nice. Very, very nice," said neighbour Lori Renda, 47, who added that the suspect played with her own children.
"I don't know him really well, but he's always said hi."
She said she had no idea what might have caused the rampage.
The Franklin Regional High School in MurrysvilleKaitlyn Pepper, a former student at Franklin who took part in a vigil for the victims, said she remembered Hribal from her time at the school.
"He was literally a shadow in the hallways.
"They said he had a girlfriend who goes to another school, but I don't know," she said.
"No one really knew of him. But they know him today."
