Arizona 5th graders allegedly planned to kill classmate in bathroom, staging it as a suicide, say police

Last fall, a group of fifth-grade students was arrested following an alleged plot to murder a fellow student, as detailed in a recently released police report. Four students from the Legacy Traditional School in Surprise, Arizona, were accused of planning to fatally stab a classmate and manipulate circumstances to make the act appear suicidal.

The incident came to light when a parent reported overhearing their child discussing the scheme on October 1, 2024. The school summoned the students and their parents the next morning to facilitate an investigation.

During this inquiry, it emerged that one of the accused, a girl, had been in a tumultuous relationship with the victim, a boy who had cheated on her. According to the report, the girl harbored strong feelings of hatred towards him, which allegedly motivated the plot.

Witness accounts revealed that during lunch on the day of the incident, the students openly talked about ways to “end him.” Their plan included luring the boy to a bathroom to stab him and was accompanied by a strategy to use gloves for fingerprint concealment, as well as forging a suicide note. Interviews with the students indicated a mix of disbelief and seriousness regarding the plot.

One participant claimed to have joked about the conversation while trying to distance herself from the escalating seriousness of others. Another student expressed discomfort but felt pressure not to appear “weird” by opting out.

A third student believed their peers were joking until they were given the role of lookout, which made the gravity of the situation clear. In the aftermath, the victim’s parent expressed a desire to pursue prosecution against the students involved.

The four arrested—two aged 10 and two aged 11—faced charges for threats and disorderly conduct. Released to their parents, they were suspended pending expulsion.

While three students displayed remorse, one and her parent appeared unbothered by the situation. Legacy Traditional School emphasized that student safety is paramount and addressed the incident promptly.

They noted that due to privacy laws, they could not discuss student disciplinary details but affirmed that threatening behavior would result in serious consequences.