A tragic incident unfolded at Roy J. Smith Middle School on Monday, March 10, 2025, when a student was fatally stabbed during an altercation on campus, prompting a swift lockdown and a homicide investigation by local authorities.
The Killeen Independent School District (KISD) confirmed the devastating loss, leaving students, staff, and families grappling with grief as the community seeks answers.
According to KISD officials, the incident occurred at approximately 11:25 a.m., when an altercation broke out between two juvenile students.
One student stabbed the other, and KISD Police quickly apprehended the suspect near the school premises. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded promptly, arriving within seven minutes to provide care.
The victim, a female student, was rushed to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries. The suspect, also a student at the school, remains in custody as the Killeen Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, with assistance from KISD Police, leads the ongoing homicide investigation.
Following the incident, the school was immediately placed on lockdown, with Principal Fred Lilly notifying families around noon that a student had been injured and that students would not be released during the lockdown.
KISD later clarified that there was no ongoing threat to students or staff, though the lockdown persisted as a precautionary measure. By early afternoon, the district had implemented its Reunification Plan, transporting all students to Manna Church at 1826 Stagecoach Road for a controlled release to parents or guardians.
Over a hundred family members lined up to retrieve their children, with KISD requiring photo IDs and Reunification Cards to ensure safety and accuracy.
The district expressed profound sorrow in a 2:55 p.m. statement: “The Killeen Independent School District is deeply saddened to share the tragic news of a fatal incident at Roy J. Smith Middle School today. Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and school community as we grieve this heartbreaking loss.”
Counseling and support services have been promised for students and staff in the wake of the tragedy, with further operational updates to be communicated directly to families.
Neither KISD nor the Killeen Police Department has released the ages or identities of the students involved, citing their juvenile status and the ongoing investigation.
Tensions flared at the reunification site when KISD officials at Manna Church reportedly threatened to remove a Killeen Daily Herald reporter from the property for attempting to speak with parents, according to a 1:50 p.m. update from the Herald.
A KISD employee had tried earlier to prevent the same reporter from engaging with families, though the reporter complied. Karen Rudolph, KISD’s head of communications, has not responded to multiple inquiries from the Herald and was not available to speak with reporters at the scene, raising questions about transparency as the situation developed.
Roy J. Smith Middle School, located at 6000 Brushy Creek Drive, serves grades 6-8 and is part of KISD, which includes a STEM academy on the campus. The school has faced security concerns in the past, including a 2023 incident in which a student was arrested for bringing a weapon to campus, though no injuries were reported at that time.
As the investigation continues, the Killeen community is left to mourn the loss of a young life and support those affected.
Authorities have not yet indicated a motive or whether additional charges are pending. The incident underscores the challenges schools face in ensuring student safety, leaving many to wonder what steps will follow to prevent such tragedies in the future.