First-Graders Attempt To Kill Classmate Using Poison, Teacher Intervenes

A group of first-grade students from Anchorage attempted to kill one of their classmates by using poison. The alarming murder plan reached one of the school's teachers, which prompted her to intervene.

Three Winterberry Charter School first-grade students reportedly planned to poison one of their classmates, Anchorage School District spokeswoman Heidi Embley told CBS affiliate KTVA. Their plot was to use what they thought was poison and put it in their classmate's food.

The incident, however, was brought to a teacher's attention. She said that a student overheard the three first-graders discussing their plan to use silica gel, which they thought was poisonous, but in reality isn't. The student then told the teacher about it.

"Given such a young age, it's not clear if they knew what they were doing, if it was just a threat or something more serious," the teacher said.

According to Embley, the teacher then alerted the school's resource officer, who in turn alerted the Anchorage Police Department. Good thing the plot didn't push through.

"The students had taken some plastic packets that are inside of a sealed food bag, meant for preservation of the food and say 'do not consume' on the packaging, and brought them to school with the intent of putting them in another student's lunch," Jennifer Castro, APD spokeswoman, explained. "The students had thought the packets contained poison. The plot was not actually carried out."

Embley said that the first-graders received disciplinary actions. Details on how they were disciplined, however, were not given out. They were not given charges.

The Washington Post reported that the first-grader were suspended and would to return to school after the punishment was complete. The parents of the students were also notified about the first-graders to kill their classmate using poison. 

Embley added that she had not heard of any similar incident in the school district during her stay, adding that they take student safety very seriously. She also said that other students in the school were talked to, and encouraged to speak to a trusted adult about things they hear or think.

"It is important for parents to talk with their children about speaking up when they learn of something that could potentially harm others," Castro agreed. "We are thankful for the student that said something to a trusted authority when they learned of the potentially harmful situation to another student."