Warrenton community rallies behind teacher, 2 students who were stabbed at middle school
WARRENTON, Mo. (KMIZ)
Two students and one teacher were stabbed Thursday morning at Black Hawk Middle School in Warrenton.
Community members gathered for a prayer circle outside of the school Thursday evening.
"This is our community. We stick with the community and if something happens, we all come together," prayer circle organizer Elizabeth Barrale said.
The Warren County Ambulance District said it was called to the school at 8 a.m. for a reported assault.
The Warrenton Police Department posted to its social media around 9 a.m. about a large emergency response at the middle school. BHMS and nearby schools were place on lockdowns. The post also said a suspect was in custody.
Later updates to the WPD's post describe "superficial" wounds to one of the students, while the second student wounded was airlifted flown to a local trauma center. The ambulance district said the student that was flown from the scene was in serious condition.
The third patient was treated and released at the scene, according to WCAD.
Superintendent Gregg Klinginsmith confirmed to ABC 17 News that one of the stabbing victims is his son. Police later confirmed all three victims were stable Thursday evening.
Barrale said news of the stabbing took her by surprise. She said crimes like it are not common to the area.
"Parents are scared to send their kids to school. It's a smaller town, we know who the superintendent or the principal's kids are. Kids know that, so," Barrale said.
Officials do not know a motive at this time. The incident occurred in an eighth-grade classroom. The accused student was a part of the class, but showed up late, Klinginsmith said. The teacher opened the door and was immediately stabbed along with the two students.
Klinginsmith said school officials did not receive any tips or advanced notice of the threat.
"if you have any tips on any threats coming up, always report them to us. We have several different ways, courage to report is one we use," Klinginsmith said.
At approximately 10:41 a.m. all classrooms were cleared by officers and parents and students were being reunited.
Klinginsmith said alongside the police investigation, the school district is taking its own steps to investigate.
"The student will get their same due process as any other student. But, this would be found guilty. This would be a safe school violation, for sure," Klinginsmith said. "They would not be allowed to be enrolled in any other school that they would try to transfer to or something like that."
