A teacher and two students were injured at Black Hawk Middle School in Warrenton before police detained a juvenile suspect within minutes.
WARRENTON, Mo. — A juvenile student was taken into custody Thursday after a teacher and two students were stabbed inside a classroom at Black Hawk Middle School, prompting a lockdown and a large police response in the community west of St. Louis, authorities said.
The attack occurred shortly before 8 a.m. Nov. 12 at the Warrenton school. Police said one injured student was flown to a St. Louis children’s hospital and the teacher was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Another student suffered less serious injuries. Police later said all three victims were in stable condition, while the teacher was subsequently released from the hospital.
Warren County R-III School District Superintendent Gregg Klinginsmith said the accused student arrived late to a first-hour class and was let into the room by the teacher. The student then allegedly attacked the teacher and two classmates before leaving the school, according to Klinginsmith and police. Authorities have not publicly identified the juvenile suspect or the injured students, and no motive has been announced.
Police said the suspect fled after the attack but was located a short time later near Daniel Boone Elementary School and taken into custody without further incident. Authorities said the arrest occurred within minutes of the stabbing. Police also said there was no continuing threat to students, staff or the surrounding community once the suspect had been detained.
One of the injured students was initially described as being in serious condition and was transported by medical helicopter to a regional children’s hospital. Police later said the student was stable. The teacher was also initially taken for hospital treatment before being released, according to an update from local officials. The second student sustained less serious injuries and did not require the same level of hospital care.
Klinginsmith confirmed that the less seriously injured student is his son. He said school officials had not received advance warning or a reported threat connected to the incident. Authorities have not released further details about what may have led to the attack, and investigators have asked the public to avoid speculation while the case remains under investigation.
The stabbing triggered an immediate lockdown at Black Hawk Middle School and affected other nearby campuses as authorities worked to secure the area. Officers searched and cleared classrooms before students were reunited with their families. Police said the school had been fully cleared by about 10:41 a.m.
The Warren County R-III School District dismissed schools early Thursday and canceled Black Hawk Middle School athletic events for the day. Black Hawk serves students in grades six through eight. School officials said counseling and support resources would be available as students and staff returned following the violence.
Students and parents described a tense morning as classrooms remained locked down and families waited for information outside the school. A community gathering was held Thursday evening near the campus for those affected by the attack. School and law enforcement officials emphasized that the immediate danger had ended after the suspect was detained.
The Warrenton Police Department continued investigating Friday and had not announced a motive or additional details about possible juvenile court proceedings. Because the suspect is a minor, authorities have released limited identifying information. Police said they would provide further information when doing so would not interfere with the investigation or the privacy of those involved.
Author note: Last updated November 13, 2026.