A 13-year-old Detroit student has been placed on probation after stabbing a classmate inside a classroom at Gompers Elementary-Middle School, according to prosecutors.
The girl entered a no-contest plea to assault with intent to do great bodily harm in connection with an incident on Oct. 8, 2025. Authorities say the situation began after her mother allegedly gave her a pocketknife while they were on school property. The classmate was stabbed multiple times, hospitalized, and later survived.
Prosecutors’ allegations
Prosecutors say 37-year-old Lacara Anita Parks brought a pocketknife to Gompers Elementary-Middle School on the morning of Oct. 8 and handed it to her daughter before class began. According to a Wayne County prosecutor’s office press release, the juvenile later used the knife to stab another student in the classroom.
Parks was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possessing a weapon in a weapons-free school zone. Her daughter was initially charged with assault and weapons offenses.
Officials with the prosecutor’s office said the case showed that multiple failures occurred leading up to the incident.
Juvenile court outcome
The juvenile later pleaded no contest to assault with intent to do great bodily harm. A related weapons charge tied to the weapons-free school zone was dismissed. Instead of being detained, she was placed on probation, according to officials.
Because the case was handled in juvenile court, the girl’s name has not been made public.
School response and safety review
Following the stabbing, the Detroit Public Schools Community District announced plans to increase police presence and add more security personnel at Gompers Elementary-Middle School while reviewing its safety procedures.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told families the district would review how metal detectors are used across school campuses. During an internal review of the incident, an assistant principal and a security guard were placed on leave.
Mother’s plea and court timeline
Local reports indicate that Parks later pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon in a weapons-free school zone. Another misdemeanor charge was dismissed as part of the case.
She was originally scheduled to be sentenced in January. Court records show that after a sentencing hearing on Feb. 2, Parks was placed on probation and ordered to pay fines. A review hearing in her case is scheduled for May 4.
Legal considerations
Officials noted that the case against Parks began as allegations and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Because the case involves a juvenile, the student’s identity and many details of the proceedings have not been released.
The school district says it will continue reviewing campus security procedures while the girl serves probation. Parks’ case remains under the supervision of the court, with the next review hearing set for May 4.