Investigation Reveals Possible Premeditation in Tragic School Stabbing Case
On February 10, a tragic incident occurred at an elementary school in Daejeon, where an 8-year-old girl, Kim Ha-neul (김하늘), was fatally stabbed by a teacher in his 40s, referred to as A. Recent investigations have uncovered that A had searched online for murder weapons and articles about past homicide cases prior to the attack, suggesting the possibility of premeditated crime.
The Daejeon Police Department's dedicated investigation team reported on February 19 that A's phone and computer were analyzed, revealing multiple searches for weapons similar to the one used in the crime days before the incident. Additionally, A had looked up various articles related to previous murder cases.
A police official stated, "While we cannot disclose specific search terms or timelines, we believe there is a connection between this incident and the cases A searched for. Based on our findings so far, we are leaning towards the possibility of a planned attack."
Following the incident, police seized A's electronic devices to clarify the motive and whether the crime was premeditated. As nine days have passed since the event, the delay in interviewing A has led investigators to focus on the planning aspect of the crime.
To uncover A's motive, five profilers have been assigned to analyze his psychological state during and before the incident. However, the investigation has been prolonged due to A's health issues, as he attempted self-harm after the attack and is currently recovering in a Daejeon university hospital, still on oxygen support.
Due to medical advice indicating that A requires stability, visits from both police and family members have been restricted. The only statement obtained from A before surgery was an admission of guilt, where he expressed frustration over not being able to resume teaching after returning to work, stating, "I was annoyed that I couldn't start classes after my reinstatement. I thought about dying together with any child."
The police are also interviewing A's colleagues, school administrators, and family members as part of their investigation. They plan to expand their inquiry into A's medical records and his personal, professional, and social life.
A police spokesperson commented, "Based on the forensic analysis and the preparation of the murder weapon, we are leaning towards the conclusion that this was a premeditated act. We will investigate all aspects that could shed light on the motive behind this crime."
