A devastating incident has left an eight-year-old girl dead following a stabbing by her teacher at an elementary school in Daejeon, South Korea. This shocking event has sent ripples of grief across the nation.
Details of the incident
The tragedy unfolded on Monday evening when the girl was discovered with multiple stab wounds on the second floor of the school building around 6:00 PM local time (09:00 GMT). Emergency services rushed her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Disturbingly, the teacher, a woman in her 40s, was found at the scene with stab wounds that authorities believe may have been self-inflicted.
In response to the incident, South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, has called for a thorough investigation. He urged officials to take necessary actions to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. “It pains me to see such an incident because a school should be our safest space,” he expressed, extending condolences to the victim’s family who are facing immense grief.
Background and investigation
Following the incident, local residents gathered at the school’s gate to pay their respects, leaving flowers and stuffed animals as symbols of their mourning. The school was closed on Tuesday as the investigation continued.
Prior to this tragic event, the teacher had taken a six-month leave of absence due to depression but returned to work just 20 days later after being deemed fit by a medical professional. Despite having no known relationship with the victim, reports indicate that the teacher exhibited troubling behavior leading up to the stabbing, including an altercation where she allegedly placed another teacher in a headlock.
On the morning of the stabbing, officials from the Daejeon education office were on-site to investigate the earlier incident involving the teacher. The student was reported missing later that evening when the school bus driver alerted the authorities that she had not been picked up.
As the investigation proceeds, police have stated they will continue to question the teacher once she has recovered from surgery. In light of her previous conduct, the education office had recommended that the teacher be put on leave and kept physically separated from other staff members.
While South Korea is known for its safety and strict gun control laws, the country has seen an increase in violent crimes, including stabbings, in recent years. This tragic event has raised concerns about safety in schools, which are often considered havens for children.