by Detroit, Michigan – A mother has filed a lawsuit against Detroit Public Schools Community District, alleging gross negligence after her 14-year-old daughter was stabbed multiple times by a classmate whose mother is accused of giving her the knife.
According to the lawsuit filed by Jazlyn Morgan, her daughter was attacked inside Gompers Elementary-Middle School on October 8 by another student, identified only as a 13-year-old girl. The younger girl’s mother, Lacara Parks, allegedly brought a knife to the school that day and handed it to her daughter before the assault occurred.
The Stabbing Inside the Classroom
Attorney David O’Keefe, representing Morgan, said the 14-year-old victim suffered stab wounds to the back of her head, upper back, and arm during the attack.
“These were not just slash marks,” O’Keefe said. “She had quite a few stitches. These weren’t superficial scratches — they were punctures.”
The victim has reportedly not returned to school since the incident due to trauma and emotional distress.
Charges Filed Against Mother and Daughter
Parks and her daughter are both facing charges in connection with the stabbing. According to prosecutors, Parks is charged with misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of a weapon in a weapons-free school zone.
Her 13-year-old daughter is being charged as a juvenile with assault with intent to cause great bodily harm and possession of a weapon in a weapons-free school zone.
Authorities said Parks allegedly gave her daughter the knife to “defend herself” on her way home from school.
Lawsuit Targets School District and Staff
Morgan’s lawsuit names Detroit Public Schools, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, Gompers Principal Akeya Murphy, Parks, two unnamed school officials, and a security guard who was reportedly present during the attack.
The suit claims that school staff were aware of escalating tensions between the two girls. Two days before the stabbing, they allegedly got into a physical fight — a situation school officials knew about but failed to handle appropriately.
According to O’Keefe, school officials were also aware of the younger girl’s “violent tendencies” but still allowed her to return to the same classroom as Morgan’s daughter.
Metal Detector Allegedly Ignored
One of the most alarming details in the lawsuit involves how the knife allegedly entered the building.
Parks reportedly left the school after a meeting with administrators, retrieved a knife from her car, and reentered through the school’s metal detector. The security guard on duty allegedly saw the metal detector alert but did not conduct a search.
“She knew there was a metal detector, she had just been through it,” O’Keefe said. “That really begs the question — what did she see at that security booth that made her think she could walk back in with a knife?”
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School Response and Investigation
After the stabbing, Detroit school officials confirmed that the security guard involved was removed from duty and placed under investigation. District leaders said the outcome could lead to termination depending on the findings.
O’Keefe argued that the tragedy was entirely preventable, calling it a “systemic failure” on the part of the school and district officials.
“This was totally preventable,” O’Keefe said. “The security measures were all there for this not to happen. People just did not do their jobs. Parents send their kids to school expecting them to be safe.”
Calls for Accountability
The lawsuit seeks to hold the district and staff accountable for failing to protect students despite having metal detectors and security systems in place. Morgan’s legal team claims the district’s negligence has caused lasting trauma for her daughter and eroded trust among parents in Detroit schools.
As the case proceeds, parents across the district are demanding clearer safety protocols and accountability for lapses in school security.
What do you think — should school staff face criminal charges when safety systems fail? Share your thoughts in the comments at race-day-live.com.
