Tragedy at Françoise-Dolto Middle School: A 14-Year-Old Student Fatally Stabs a School Supervisor

An act of extreme violence struck the Françoise-Dolto school in Nogent, Haute-Marne, on Tuesday, June 10. Mélanie G., a 31-year-old school supervisor, was fatally stabbed by a 14-year-old student while she was participating in a visual bag check at the school entrance, in the presence of the gendarmerie. Seriously wounded with multiple stab wounds shortly before 8 a.m., she succumbed to her injuries later that morning despite the rapid response of emergency services.

The tragedy occurred during a long-planned inspection operation, set up following the government’s “Retailleau-Borne” directive aimed at strengthening security around educational institutions. During the suspect’s arrest, a gendarme sustained a minor hand injury.

A Brutal and Incomprehensible Attack

The alleged perpetrator, a 9th-grade student, was immediately subdued and taken into custody at the Nogent gendarmerie. Until now, he was not known to police nor flagged for serious behavioral issues. According to the Minister of Education, Élisabeth Borne, the boy — from a seemingly stable family — had even been appointed as a “bullying ambassador” earlier in the year. However, he had previously received two temporary suspensions for disruptive behavior. Since November, no major incidents had been reported.

During his detention, the teenager remained silent regarding his motives. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that the investigation will need to determine whether psychological issues may have played a role. The Chaumont prosecutor’s office has entrusted the case to the local investigation unit and the Reims research section.

An Education Community in Shock

The tragedy has deeply shaken the entire school community. The school’s 324 students were placed in lockdown during the emergency response and later sent home. A psychological support unit was deployed immediately. Classes will remain suspended through Wednesday.

A former hairdresser who had transitioned into the education field, Mélanie G. had been working at the school since last September. A mother to a young boy, she was, according to those close to her, deeply committed to her work and passionate about helping young people.

Political Reactions and Security Debate

The violence of the act sparked a wave of emotion across all levels of government. President Emmanuel Macron condemned “a senseless outburst of violence” and declared that “the Nation is in mourning.” Élisabeth Borne visited the scene of the tragedy, calling for “a comprehensive response” that includes better regulation of bladed weapon sales as well as stronger mental health support for young people. She also highlighted the harmful influence of screens and social media on adolescent behavior.

Prime Minister François Bayrou, for his part, mentioned the possibility of testing weapon detection gates in schools. He emphasized the need for an appropriate judicial response and a systematic screening protocol to detect psychological vulnerabilities among students.

Across the political spectrum, reactions were strong. Both left- and right-wing representatives expressed their shock and called for greater investment in prevention to combat the rise in school violence. The SNES-FSU and other education unions lamented the increasing risks faced by non-teaching staff, stressing that supervisors are “neither security guards nor human shields.”

A Context of Heightened Alert

This tragedy occurs in a context of growing tension around schools. Since March, over 6,000 bag searches have been carried out across France, resulting in 186 knives seized and 32 suspects taken into custody, according to the Ministry of the Interior. While material security is improving, the need for deeper preventive efforts — particularly regarding the psychological monitoring of students — has become increasingly urgent.