A Detroit mother has pleaded guilty after prosecutors say she gave her 13-year-old daughter the pocketknife later used to stab another student multiple times inside Gompers Elementary-Middle School.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, 37-year-old Lacara Anita Parks pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon in a weapons-free school zone, a misdemeanor. A second charge, contributing to the delinquency of a minor was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
How the Incident Unfolded
The stabbing happened on October 8 around 8:40 a.m., shortly after students arrived at the school. Prosecutors say Parks gave her daughter the knife “to defend herself on the way home,” but investigators allege she brought the weapon onto school grounds that morning.
Security staff reportedly allowed Parks to pass through despite a metal detector alert, something now under internal investigation. Moments later, her daughter allegedly used the knife to stab another 13-year-old girl several times. The victim was hospitalized but survived and was listed in stable condition.
School Safety Under Scrutiny
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, an assistant principal and a security guard were placed on leave. Officials say the guard failed to search Parks despite the metal detector being triggered, a violation of protocol that “could lead to termination.”
Court Proceedings and What Comes Next
During Parks’ earlier arraignment, she visibly disagreed with the prosecutor’s account, shaking her head repeatedly as the allegations were read. She was granted a $50,000 personal bond and ordered to wear a GPS tether.
Now, after entering a guilty plea, Parks is scheduled to be sentenced on January 8, 2026.
Her daughter, also 13, has been charged with assault and possession of a weapon in a school zone. Because of her age, she has not been identified. Her juvenile case remains ongoing.
Officials say the stabbing stemmed from a dispute between the two students.
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