2 Students, 1 Adult Injured In Stabbing At Florida Middle School

Two students and an adult at a Florida middle school were injured in a stabbing incident on March 24.

Published: 3/26/2026, 4:23:37 AM EDT

2 Students, 1 Adult Injured In Stabbing At Florida Middle School — A law enforcement officer puts up police tape at a crime scene in an udated file photograph. (Samantha Laurey/AFP via Getty Images)

Two students and an adult at a Florida middle school were injured in a stabbing incident on March 24.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office responded to a call at Walton Middle School in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Deputies responded and detained a student one block away from the school.

"Our first priority, along with Walton County School District was to ensure that students and staff were safe, the situation was brought under control, and accurate information was relayed to parents regarding reunification," Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson said in a press release.

Adkinson said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that the male suspect—a student at the school—was dropped off at the school's entrance at 7:17 a.m. and entered the building. He immediately walked into a bathroom and came out wearing a mask wielding an unspecified "sharp implement," later revealed to be a kitchen knife the student brought from home. He attacked the first student he came in contact with, stabbing the first student multiple times before the student ran away. The suspect then walked down another hall and attacked a paraprofessional, who also suffered injuries. He then stabbed another student before fleeing the scene. The entire attack only lasted about 45 seconds.

The first victim was incapacitated by their wounds and was being aided by a teacher. Paramedics rendered life-saving aid to the two student victims—both seventh graders—before being transported to area hospitals; Adkinson said that both students were in critical condition. The paraprofessional did not sustain life-threatening injuries but was transported to a hospital anyway.

Deputies and DeFuniak Springs police responded to the scene at around 7:22 a.m. A school resource deputy was already at the school and immediately responded. Just seven minutes later, deputies and local police arrested and detained the suspect just a block away from the school.

The incident occurred during the early drop-off period before regular school hours; there were only approximately 40-50 students in the building at the time. Those students were taken away from the school and regrouped at another location where parents picked them up. Classes were cancelled for the day.

No Relationship Between the Victims and Suspect

At a second press conference on Wednesday, Adkinson revealed that none of the victims had any relationship with the suspect.

School superintendent Russell Hughes said there were no indications that the suspect was going to commit an attack. The suspect had been suspended about a month previously, but the matter was unrelated.

The suspect is charged with attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, wearing a mask during the commission of a felony, tampering with evidence, and disrupting a school function. He is being held at a juvenile detention center. The knife was recovered in a nearby retention pond.

The school was open for class as normal, but attendance was only at about 41 percent, Hughes said. Counseling services are being offered to students.