Dyersburg student brings knife to school, sticks five classmates

(WMC-TV) - A 13-year-old Dyersburg Middle School student was arrested Friday after sticking five classmates with a knife.

Investigators said the student was taken into custody around 7:30 a.m. after bringing a knife to school and sticking three 12-year-olds and two 13-year-olds.

"It got me right there and then it spreaded," described 14 year-old Haley Burns of her wounds.  "My side right here and then my finger," she added.

Burns was not seriously injured, but was shaken up.

"Cause I wouldn't date him," said Burns.

Dyersburg Police say a resource officer assigned to the school was alerted by a teacher of a student that was armed with a knife and had stuck other students with the knife.

Fortunately, none of them required immediate medical attention.  But police say each victim was threatened if they told.

"Said that if I snitch on him he's gonna kill me and he knows where I live and stuff like that," said Burns.

"I don't think we are doing a good job of taking care of the weapon problem at the school," said Haley mother, Tiffany Barrett.

Several parents said first heard of the incident on Action News 5 and not in a note from the school.

"It's scary to think something like that happens at a middle school especially," said parent Jennifer Reynolds.  "You hope they're safe but I guess you just never really know," she added.

Police charged the 13 year-old suspect with five counts of aggravated assault and for possession of a weapon on school property.  They say the pocket knife used in the attack was recovered in a restroom.  The 13 year-old was released because of overcrowding at the juvenile detention center in Dyersburg.  Under state law, he faces a 180 suspension from school.

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