One student is dead after being stabbed at Northeast Middle School on Tuesday.

The victim was identified as 14-year-old Manuel J. Guzman on Wednesday.

Tuesday morning just after 9 a.m., officers were called to Northeast Middle School in regard to a cutting call. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, a juvenile male, suffering from apparent stab wounds inside a bathroom. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures along with security inside the school.

There is no ongoing threat at this time. One victim, a male student, was transported to the hospital in life threatening condition after being stabbed multiple times inside the school. A subject of interest, a male student, was detained.

The school was placed on lockdown while the student was transported by ambulance to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

The area immediately surrounding the school was shut down by KCPD traffic crews. There is no known motive at this time.

“At this time, our students are safe, and we are working directly with Northeast Middle School families on reunification plans and an early dismissal,” Elle Moxley, KCPS Public Relations coordinator said. “We are in the process of dismissing students now.”

KCPS is working with law enforcement to investigate what happened. This is an evolving, emergency situation, and we expect new information will become available throughout the day. We know there will be considerable media attention, but right now, our goal is to communicate first with our families and staff.  

“Your student’s safety at school is our number one priority,” Kelly Wachel, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for KCPS wrote in an email to parents. “Today and tomorrow, we will be providing additional information and counseling support to students and staff who need help processing today’s events. Please keep our NEMS students, families and staff in your thoughts today. We are committed to keeping you informed as we can throughout the day and following few days.”

Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell informed KCPS families Tuesday evening of the student’s death.

He noted that staff worked quickly following the incident to ensure the safety and security of all students.

“We are working in partnership with law enforcement to safely reopen Northeast Middle School tomorrow,” Bedell said in his evening update. “We will have additional security officers in the building when students and staff return in the morning – as well as increased security protocols. Additionally, all our students at Northeast Middle School will receive personal support from our trained clinicians, counselors and trauma team members tomorrow.”

KCPS has counselors and clinicians in schools every day working with students on numerous support systems, positive behavior interventions and conflict resolution when needed.

“We continue to provide additional training, resources and support for our security officers, all through a trauma-informed lens,” Bedell wrote. “Today, that training helped our NEMS security officers work alongside our school staff to provide life-saving first-aid until paramedics could arrive.”

The suspect, who was taken into custody yesterday, has been charged with First Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of Weapons through the Jackson County Juvenile Court.