Photo: Getty Images
Authorities are still searching for suspects in the death of a 14-year-old teenage boy who was killed while walking home from his middle school in St. Louis, Missouri.
According to KMOV, Justin Brooks, 14, was fatally stabbed after leaving Jennings Junior High School on Tuesday (March 12) at around 3 p.m.
School resource officers first responded to the scene and provided medical treatment to Brooks before he was taken to a local hospital, police said. Brooks died from his injuries at the hospital.
In a statement, Dr. Paula Knight, the superintendent of the Jennings School District, addressed the death of the junior high student.
“Sometimes the community spills over into the schools and we do our best to ensure that we keep it separate, keeping the children safe at all times. But it is tough, tough times right now,” Knight said.
The superintendent noted that the district was providing grief counselors and added more officers to patrol the area surrounding the school.
In a tweet, Jennings City Councilman Terry Wilson called Brooks’ death “heartbreaking."
“Heartbreaking to hear of another youth violence tragedy in our community,” Wilson wrote on X. “A 14-year-old boy lost his life to stabbing near Jennings Junior High. It's time for this to stop. We must work together to ensure our streets and schools are safe. Prayers go out to the families.”
No arrests had been made as of Wednesday (March 13). St. Louis County police said they don't believe the stabbing was random.
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