Middle schooler charged after poking student with ‘sharpened toothbrush’ in Murfreesboro, deputies say

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Deputies in Rutherford County have arrested a 12-year-old boy who is accused of poking another student with a sharpened object at a Murfreesboro middle school.

According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), the incident took place at Siegel Middle School on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Authorities reported the 12-year-old, who is a seventh grader at the school, allegedly poked another student in the back with a sharpened toothbrush.

The boy is accused of showing off the sharpened object to other students in a common area outside of a restroom before the incident unfolded.

“He ended up in a stabbing motion, hitting one student in the back with it,” said Sgt. Irvin Turner. “The student was not hurt. There was no bleeding and no skin was broken.”

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The 12-year-old was charged with aggravated assault and carrying a weapon on school campus, according to RCSO.

Although there were no injuries reported, authorities said the incident was taken “extremely seriously.”

“We have to take these incidents extremely seriously,” Turner said. “The object he had could have caused serious injury.”

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RCS Communications Chief James Evans said the student was expelled under the school district’s zero-tolerance policy.

In addition, deputies said they took the seventh grader to the Rutherford County Juvenile Services Center where he awaits a Juvenile Court hearing.

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