Teaching Assistant, 31, Dies After Being Fatally Stabbed by 14-Year-Old Student Outside School During a Bag Check: Reports

A 31-year-old teaching assistant was tragically killed on Monday after being fatally stabbed by a 14-year-old student during a school bag check in front of the Françoise Dolto middle school in Nogent-sur-Marne, northeast France.

The attack occurred around 10 a.m. during a random police-conducted search of students’ bags—part of a national campaign to address growing violence in French schools. As authorities inspected the contents of students’ backpacks at the entrance, the teenage boy reportedly produced a knife and stabbed the assistant multiple times.

According to police reports, the victim was struck in the chest and abdomen. Emergency services were quickly dispatched, and the woman was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical staff, she succumbed to her injuries later that day.

A police officer who attempted to intervene during the attack sustained minor injuries and was treated on-site. The teenage suspect was immediately arrested without further incident.

The slain woman, whose identity has not yet been publicly released, had been working as a teaching assistant at the school since September. She was described by colleagues and family members as warm, deeply committed to her students, and a devoted mother to a young child.

“She was joyful, sweet, and had no enemies,” said a family member in an interview with French media. “We are completely devastated.”

Students and staff were placed on lockdown after the attack, and psychological support services were immediately deployed to the school. Education authorities announced that classes would be suspended for at least two days to allow the community to grieve and recover.

The 14-year-old assailant, a student at the school, had a known history of behavioral issues, including a prior suspension. Reports indicate that he had previously participated in an anti-bullying initiative, though it remains unclear if he was the target or perpetrator of bullying.

He had no prior criminal record and no clear motive has yet been confirmed by investigators. He remains in police custody and is being questioned by juvenile investigators under France’s strict protocols for minors involved in violent crimes.

A preliminary investigation has been opened for “premeditated murder” and “violence against a public official.”

The tragedy has sparked renewed concern over violence in French schools and prompted strong reactions from political leaders.

President Emmanuel Macron expressed “deep sorrow and outrage” over the incident and called for a minute of silence in all public schools across the country. “This is a senseless act of violence against those who dedicate their lives to educating and protecting our children,” he said.

Prime Minister François Bayrou called the attack a “national shock” and announced a series of emergency measures in response. These include a pilot program to install airport-style security gates at select schools, increased police presence at high-risk institutions, and a review of knife regulations.

Currently, certain knives used in school-related incidents are not classified as weapons under French law—a loophole the government now pledges to close.

“We are facing an unprecedented surge in youth violence,” Bayrou said during a press conference. “This is not just a school issue—it’s a societal one.”

This latest tragedy comes amid rising reports of knife-related violence among French adolescents. Just two months ago, in April, a student in Nantes fatally stabbed a classmate and injured three others.

According to France’s Ministry of Education, over 180 knives have been confiscated since the introduction of random bag checks earlier this year, with more than 30 students arrested. The initiative was launched in response to a nearly 15% increase in weapon-related incidents in French middle and high schools since 2024.

Education Minister Élisabeth Borne visited the school on Monday evening and pledged full support to the staff, students, and the grieving family. “We will not let this become the new normal,” she stated. “Schools must remain sanctuaries of safety, not sites of tragedy.”

As the country reels from the attack, many parents, teachers, and advocacy groups are calling for deeper reforms—not only increased security but also greater focus on mental health, bullying prevention, and early intervention for troubled youth.

The victim’s family, meanwhile, asks for privacy as they mourn the loss of a woman who, by all accounts, was doing what she loved—supporting young people.

An official memorial service is expected to be held later this week. The investigation remains ongoing.