No charges were filed in a stabbing at a LaFayette, Ga., elementary school where a first-grader scrambled away from administrators, grabbed a small knife in a staff kitchen and cut an assistant principal's leg, police said.
LaFayette police Detective Sgt. Stacey Meeks said police are not filing charges in the incident that happened Tuesday at Gilbert Elementary School because of the circumstances.
The child had been taken to the principal's office over "behavioral issues," and Walker County Department of Family and Children's Services representatives were en route to help with "meeting the needs of the child" when the incident occurred, Sgt. Meeks said.
While school officials were talking to the child and waiting for people from the agency to arrive, the child became upset and unexpectedly ran into a staff kitchen, overturned a dish rack and picked up a small paring knife when it fell to the floor, he said.
"Due to the emotional state of the child" administrators thought the situation could result in a self-inflicted injury, he said. The assistant principal, listed on the school's website as Matt Harris, was cut on the shin as he tried to retrieve the knife, Sgt. Meeks said.
"It's a very, very sad situation," he said. "Nothing's ever black and white. This is a prime example of that in this case. You have to look at the totality of the circumstances."
The detective said other students never were in danger, and school officials "did an outstanding job in responding to the incident."
The child was taken into emergency custody by the Department of Family and Children's Services and transported to a medical facility for a psychological evaluation, Sgt. Meeks said.
Walker County Schools spokeswoman Elaine Womack said Mr. Harris was treated with "a few stitches" and returned to the school later in the day for an event.
"Principal Brad Hayes immediately followed established board policy and procedure to secure the situation for the safety of the students and staff," Ms. Womack said. The child was "suspended and referred for a tribunal hearing to determine disciplinary action."
The elementary school incident happened just days after a LaFayette Middle School student pulled out a .44-caliber handgun on a school bus, aimed it at another student and pulled the trigger on an empty chamber.
That student, a 14-year-old, faces charges of aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and possessing a weapon on school property, police said. The gunplay stemmed from an incident the day before in which the victim in the case threw a Twinkie at the 14-year-old and that escalated into a food fight, authorities said.
LaFayette Public Safety Director Tommy Freeman said Tuesday that the boy brought the gun to school from home. It was unloaded.
"He had ammo with him but it didn't fit that weapon," he said. He faces a court hearing May 14.
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