A 14-year-old girl passed away Monday after being stabbed at her middle school in Killeen, Texas.
According to the Killeen Police Department, the incident occurred at Roy J. Smith Middle School around 11:30 a.m. Preliminary investigations revealed that two 14-year-old female classmates had a dispute that escalated, resulting in one girl stabbing the other.
The victim was transported to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center but succumbed to her injuries, being pronounced dead at 12:21 p.m.
The other girl involved has been taken into custody.
Police have chosen not to release the names of the girls due to their ages. However, the victim’s family identified her as Serenity Baker in a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising financial support for her memorial. They described her as “a bright, loving, and compassionate young soul with a promising future ahead of her.”
Classes at the school are suspended until March 24, coinciding with the end of spring break, according to the district. Counseling and support services will be available for students and staff.
“Our hearts are heavy as we navigate this difficult time together. We know this tragedy has deeply affected our school community, and we want to ensure that our students, staff, and families have the space and support needed to grieve and begin to recover,” stated Superintendent Jo Ann Fey, Ed.D.
