EAST PROVIDENCE — The victim of a stabbing at East Providence High School on Thursday, Oct. 19, is recovering following surgery that same day to mend his wounds.

The assailant has been arrested and remains in custody.

East Providence Police confirmed initial reports of one male student having stabbed another male in the chest in a bathroom on the second floor of the four-story structure.

The incident was also alleged to have began as an altercation over a vape, an electric cigarette, but that was later deterimined not to be the case.  The two students are believed to be athletes and were known to each other prior to the incident.

Public safety officials arrested the alleged assailant, a 17-year-old EPHS student the day of the incident.

The victim, 16 and also a student at EPHS, was treated on the scene and transported to hospital in serious, but stable condition.

He later underwent surgery later that same evening and, if social media posts are to be believed, was recovering well enough earlier this week to receive a visit from members of the Providence College men's basketball team on Monday, Oct. 23.

Both minors, the names of those involved have yet to be released to the public via either the school department or law enforcement.

At a hastily prepared press conference held later the day of the incident at the East Providence Police Headquarters on nearby Waterman Avenue, school and city officials declined to comment on the implement used during the incident, nor would they confirm either how or why it occurred. Officials added there would be an increased police presence at the school on Friday and that a review of security practices would be conducted.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sandra Forand called Thursday's event, a "one-off incident," while East Providence Police Chief Chris Francesconi said early indications were only the victim and suspect were involved. 

Of note as well, all indications were the physical security measures put into place with the construction of the new building, now in its third term of operation, worked flawlessly. All doors and stairwells locked when activated.

A larger than usual police presence was put into place at the end of last week into earlier this week. Asked about the mood of the building on Friday, Oct. 20, especially, one member of the EPHS staff reached for comment said it was "fine," seemingly back to normal since the initial shock wore off while another said it was basically "good...business as usual. There wasn't a heavy vibe for the most part."

Asked for an update on the matter Tuesday, Oct. 24, EPPD Services Division Commander/Public Information Officer Captain Michael Rapoza said the alleged assailant has charged and remains in custody for likely at least 30 days until the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General determines if he will be tried as a juvenile or adult.

In addition, Rapoza said the victim has still yet to be interviewed. Detectives and school resource officers have been following up on several witness statements.

(Updated, Oct. 30, 8:30 p.m.) As more details emerge, the notion the confrontation began over vaping has been negated.

The ill will between the parties actually started a few days before the stabbing incident at a nearby fast food restaurant. The victim attempted to break up another altercation involving his eventual assailant, which led to the violent act inside EPHS on October 19.