Superintendent: student detained ‘within minutes’ after stabbing others, fleeing Warrenton middle school

WARRENTON, Mo. (First Alert 4) -- Warren County School District Superintendent Gregg Klinginsmith told First Alert 4 a student who stabbed a teacher and two other students was taken into custody by police minutes after fleeing the middle school building.

Klinginsmith said in an interview Thursday that the student stabbed a teacher with a knife immediately after he was let in a classroom. Then the student stabbed two other students. He then ran out of the building, where police detained him.

One of the injured students was Klinginsmith’s own son, an 8th grader at Black Hawk Middle School. Klinginsmith said his son was stabbed in the hand and was doing okay. He added that the attacking student attempted to stab his son in the chest as well but was unsuccessful.

Klinginsmith said he was not aware of any recent threats from the student who carried out the stabbing. He also said he was not sure how the student got the knife inside the building.

The plan as of early afternoon was for Black Hawk Middle School to return to class Friday, Klinginsmith said.

“I think kids want to get back to a sense of normalcy whenever we can,” he said. “And we know that there will be a trauma time for sure as kids come back.”

He added that counseling will be available “as quickly as possible.”

The injured teacher has been with the school district since 2017, according to Klinginsmith. The other injured student was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital and was in serious condition, according to the Warren County Ambulance District.

Live updates: 2 students, teacher stabbed at Warrenton middle school

The district regularly reviews security protocols, Klinginsmith said, and there will be a review after the stabbing.

“This incident will definitely allow us to review our protocols and what’s in place,” he said. “And so that’s something we’ll continue to be reviewing and discussing.”