There are new questions being asked about that alleged plot by a group of third graders accused of trying to knock out, attack and stab their own teacher in a Georgia classroom.
We first told you about the stunning revelations on Wednesday. As many as nine kids, now said to be between the ages of 8 and 10, were caught with incriminating evidence at a
Waycross, Georgia school earlier this week.
They'd brought a broken steak knife, duct tape and even handcuffs (top left) to class, and there are allegations each child was given a specific task to perform, including covering the windows to prevent prying eyes and cleaning up the blood after it was over.
They were said to be angry after the special education teacher reportedly yelled at one of them for standing on a chair.
An unrelated student who saw the blade in a backpack became scared and told school officials. When police were called, they discovered the plan.
But some psychologists believe it never would have happened even if authorities hadn't intervened. "The reality is it is highly unlikely they would have been successful at this," explains Dr. Louis Kraus, a child psychiatry expert at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. "Even if it had begun, it's unclear whether they actually would have followed through with it."
He notes these kinds of acts don't usually happen until kids are of high school age and while it's not unheard of to have youngsters tote weapons to school, most do it to act tough - and never plan to actually use them.
Another maintains that children under 12 simply can't form the intent or anger to spark such violence. "Kids tend to be more spontaneous," points out Dan Mears, an associate professor at Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. "If they're angry, they act on it right then."
Even though Georgia law states children under 13 can't be charged with a crime, prosecutors are allowed to file juvenile charges. The district attorney is hoping to do just that against some of the kids, including conspiracy to commit aggravated assault against an 8-year-old boy and two girls, ages 9 and 10. The girls are also cited for bringing the weapons to school in the first place.
All those alleged to have been involved have been suspended and the school board is looking at possible expulsions.
Parents in the small town continue to shake their heads at the magnitude of the alleged plot and the ages of those involved. "They were so young, I just couldn't believe it," admits 50-year-old Euleathia Harris, who lives near the campus of Center Elementary School. "I wouldn't think anything like that would happen in little ol' Waycross. I guess if it can happen in the big cities, it can happen here."
But thankfully, it didn't.
Photo courtesy: Waycross Georgia Police Department