Crime Police Searching for Suspects in Fatal Stabbing of 14-Year-Old Boy Killed After Leaving Middle School The victim has been identified by police as 14-year-old Justin Brooks By Nicole Acosta Nicole Acosta Nicole Acosta is a staff writer on the crime team at PEOPLE. She previously worked at Daily Voice and doNYC and is a Mercy College (now University) graduate. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 14, 2024 11:24AM EDT Close Justin Brooks. Photo: Justin Brooks/Instagram Authorities have yet to make any arrests in connection with the death of a teenage boy who was killed this week after leaving his middle school in St Louis, Mo. The victim, who has been identified by police as 14-year-old Justin Brooks, was walking home from Jennings Junior High School when he was fatally stabbed around 3 p.m. Tuesday, KMOV reports. According to the KMOV, the stabbing occurred around the corner from the school. Local police said school resource officers were the first to arrive on scene and provide medical treatment to Brooks, the Kansas City Star and St. Louis Riverfront Times also reported. The boy was reportedly taken to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Dr. Paula Knight, the superintendent for the Jennings School District, addressed the incident in a statement to KMOV. “Sometimes the community spills over into the schools and we do our best to ensure that we keep it separate, keeping the children safe at all times. But it is tough, tough times right now,” she said, per the outlet. Knight also told KMOV that the school district provided grief counselors and that additional officers patrolled the area surrounding the school. Jennings City Councilman Terry Wilson called Brooks’ death “heartbreaking” in a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. “Heartbreaking to hear of another youth violence tragedy in our community,” the post read. “A 14-year-old boy lost his life to stabbing near Jennings Junior High. It's time for this to stop. We must work together to ensure our streets and schools are safe. Prayers go out to the families.” St. Louis County police do not believe the stabbing was random and have not made any arrests as of Wednesday, the Kansas City Star reported.