Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Phoenix Police Arrest Man Accused of Assaulting Student at Orangewood Elementary

Officials say he posed as a doctor to lure a 10-year-old into a classroom, prompting a safety review.

Overview

  • Police say the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Abel Kai Gblah, entered the Phoenix campus by following a student who was buzzed in and remained on site for about 10 minutes.
  • According to court documents, he told the child he was a doctor who needed to perform tests, then assaulted her in an empty classroom before fleeing when she told him to stop.
  • Officers reviewed security video, identified Gblah, and arrested him later at his home; he was booked on sexual assault, kidnapping, and a reported probation violation.
  • The school was locked down from 12:20 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., and an Orangewood employee was placed on administrative leave as the district investigates access procedures.
  • District officials say security will remain on campus through the week and policies are under review, while police report the child and family are receiving support services; public records list Gblah as a level 2 sex offender with a prior 2021 conviction.