Lacara Anita Parks, Detroit Mom Charged After Sneaking Pocket Knife Into Gompers Elementary-Middle School for Daughter Who Later Used It to Stab Classmate [PHOTOS]

Detroit, Michigan — A 37-year-old Detroit mother, Lacara Anita Parks, is facing criminal charges after allegedly sneaking a pocket knife into Gompers Elementary-Middle School and giving it to her 13-year-old daughter, who later used the weapon to stab a classmate.

Parks appeared in court Wednesday, where she was formally charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possession of a weapon in a weapons-free school zone, both misdemeanors. Her daughter faces felony charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm and possession of a weapon on school property, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. on October 8, when the eighth-grade student allegedly stabbed another 13-year-old girl multiple times following a prior altercation between the two. The attack took place on school grounds in the 14400 block of Burt Road, Detroit.

Lacara Anita Parks charged with sneaking pocket knife into school which daughter then uses in school stabbing involving classmate.

Prosecutors allege that Parks, aware of the previous dispute, returned home from work to retrieve a knife before bypassing school security and handing the weapon to her daughter “for protection” as she dropped her off.

Moments later, the girl used the knife to stab the victim in the head, back, and arm, leaving her with severe injuries, including a deep cut from her neck to her ear, the victim’s mother said in a Facebook post.

“This case illustrates that a lot of things went wrong on many levels — and as a result, a child was stabbed,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. “It’s unacceptable. We can and must do better for our children.”

Both Parks and her daughter were arrested on October 8 and bonded out the following day on $10,000 surety bonds. During Wednesday’s hearing, Magistrate Judge Dawn White described Parks as “a danger” to the community and questioned her “decision-making process that could affect other children.”

Parks was granted a $50,000 personal bond and placed on GPS tether monitoring, with strict orders to stay away from her daughter’s school. Her daughter was also ordered to have no contact with the campus.

Parks’ attorney has disputed the prosecutor’s claims, saying that security footage does not clearly show a knife being handed to the girl. However, investigators maintain that the mother previously admitted to providing the knife so her daughter could “protect herself.”

The school’s security guard, who reportedly failed to search Parks after a metal detector alarm sounded, has been removed and placed under investigation, while the assistant principal has been placed on administrative leave pending a district review.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti confirmed that the district is reviewing whether safety protocols were properly followed on the day of the incident.

Meanwhile, the victim’s family has filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the Detroit Public Schools Community District, alleging negligence and failure to ensure student safety.

Parks is expected to return to court on October 29.