Motive not known for attack on Alaska elementary students

Fifth-grader Ashley Smith describes the injuries her two brothers suffered in the attack

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) -- Four boys aged 8 to 10 were stabbed Monday on a school playground before classes by a man wielding a filet knife.

One of the victims was critically wounded, police said.

No motive was known for the attack, police spokesman Ron McGee said. Little was known about the suspect except that he has "a significant criminal record" and was not a school employee, McGee said.

The attacks happened just before 8 a.m. when there were about 50 students on the Mountain View Elementary School playground awaiting pre-class breakfast.

The suspect then ran inside where a male teacher fended him off in a classroom using a desk.

Police shot the man three times with bean bag ammunition, hitting him in the arm, leg and hand, McGee said, and took the suspect into custody.

It was the last shot -- fracturing his hand -- that forced the assailant to drop his knife, the police spokesman said.

Suspect Prichard has a "significant criminal record," authorities said

The suspect, identified as Jason Pritchard, 33, was arrested on four charges of first-degree attempted murder and four charges of first-degree assault. He was held on $2 million bond pending formal arraignment expected within 24 hours.

The four victims underwent emergency surgery at two different hospitals, McGee said. One was listed in critical condition and the other three in serious condition.

"The children were on the playground before school began," said Michelle Egan, public relations director for the Anchorage School District. "There was an adult person on the playground. The suspect stabbed four kids. They fled into the school."

The elementary school was locked down, she said. Police reunited the schoolchildren with their parents.

Anchorage School District

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