An 8-year-old girl was fatally stabbed by a teacher at an elementary school in Daejeon on Monday. Here's what we know so far.
What happened
The child's parents became alarmed at around 4:50 p.m. Monday when their child did not arrive at a private academy as scheduled. The victim, in first grade, was enrolled in the school’s after-school program for students of working parents. They reported the absence to both the school and the police.
Authorities traced the child's phone to a multimedia room inside the school, where they discovered the victim next to a woman, both with multiple stab wounds.
Who is the suspect?
The injured woman found at the scene confessed to stabbing the girl. The suspect, a full-time teacher in her 40s, is currently hospitalized for suspected self-inflicted wounds but is not in critical condition. It remains unclear how the child was connected to the teacher.
Multiple local reports indicate that the teacher had returned to work in December after taking time off for depression. A report also stated that four days before the incident, the teacher exhibited erratic behavior and acted violently toward a colleague.
Possible motive
The motive for the attack is still unclear. Authorities are investigating the circumstances leading up to the attack.
