In recent months, there have been a series of cases in mainland China where minors have killed their peers. The latest incident occurred at a middle school in Yanjin County, Yunnan Province, where a 15-year-old student stabbed a classmate with a fruit knife, resulting in the classmate’s death despite rescue efforts being made.
On May 21st, the sister of the deceased revealed that her brother, a student at Maiba Middle School in Yanjin County, was attacked on the back of his head with a sharp kitchen knife by a classmate on the evening of May 20th. It wasn’t until the morning of the 21st, after unsuccessful medical efforts, that the school hastily informed the parents of the tragic outcome.
“We don’t know why he was attacked or by how many students,” the sister of the deceased said.
On the 22nd, the Yanjin County Public Security Bureau reported that around 7:50 am on the 21st, a 15-year-old student, the suspect Xia, inflicted injuries on another 15-year-old student, Xu, with a fruit knife at Maiba Middle School in Yanjin County, resulting in Xu’s death after unsuccessful rescue efforts.
According to reports from “Benliu News,” officials from the Yanjin County Education and Sports Bureau stated that relevant leaders were handling the matter at the school. Yanjin County Public Security Bureau staff mentioned that specific details should be inquired from the publicity department, with personnel from the Yanjin County Committee’s propaganda department only saying that the matter was under review.
This incident has sparked heated discussions online, prompting questions surrounding the escalating violence among children. Speculations arise regarding the root causes behind children’s increasing violent tendencies – whether it be prolonged exposure to violence, inability to cope with internal pressures, difficulties in resolving conflicts, or lack of parental care and guidance.
Concerns were raised about the protection granted to underage criminal offenders under the “Law on the Protection of Minors,” while the victims of these crimes, who are also minors, unjustly suffered. Criticisms pointed towards the evident ethical discrepancies of the law regarding child protection, calling for timely revisions to reflect public demands.
In recent times, there has been a rise in cases where minors in China have been responsible for the killings of other minors.
At the end of April, a 17-year-old teenager in Rongchang District of Chongqing fatally stabbed another 17-year-old peer with a fruit knife.
On the afternoon of March 22nd, at the entrance of Beidingji Junior High School in Gengwu Town, Shuyang County, Jiangsu Province, a 13-year-old boy fatally stabbed a male teenager under 16 years old.
On March 18th, news spread across various social media platforms in mainland China about a 16-year-old teenager, Xiao Shuai (alias), who was invited by a friend to mediate a dispute only to be killed by a peer of similar age. The perpetrator even posted photos on social media featuring tattoos after the incident.
On March 10th, in Feixiang District of Handan City, Hebei Province, a 13-year-old student named Wang Ziyao was brutally murdered by three fellow classmates. Following widespread public outrage, it took local authorities a week to officially announce the incident. Family members of Wang Ziyao were also subject to official monitoring and control measures.
It is alarming how incidents of young individuals killing their peers have become more frequent and demand serious attention and action to address the underlying issues leading to such tragedies.