A 14-year-old French student detained over the fatal stabbing of a teaching assistant told investigators he had targeted "any" adult school monitor after being reprimanded for kissing his girlfriend, prosecutors revealed Wednesday.
The suspect, who described himself as a fan of "violent video games," appeared emotionally detached and expressed no remorse during questioning, according to Denis Devallois, the prosecutor in the northeastern town of Chaumont.
"He said he acted this way because he could no longer tolerate the behavior of monitors in general," Devallois told reporters following Tuesday’s attack. The teenager did not exhibit signs of a "mental disorder" but admitted to planning the assault after a monitor scolded him on June 6 for kissing his girlfriend on school grounds.
French authorities on Thursday requested that the teenager be charged with murder and "intentional violence" and held in pre-trial detention. The suspect, arrested Tuesday, allegedly stabbed a 31-year-old school aide during a bag search at a secondary school in Nogent, eastern France.
The killing has shocked the country, reigniting debates over juvenile knife crime and youth violence. Classes resumed Thursday at Françoise Dolto school, where a moment of silence was held nationwide in honor of the victim. As a minor, the suspect faces a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted.
In response to the attack, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to advocate for European Union legislation banning social media access for children under 15.
"If that does not work, we will start to do it in France. We cannot wait," Macron told France 2 on Tuesday, hours after the stabbing. He emphasized that social media platforms have the capability to enforce age verification, urging them to act.
Prime Minister François Bayrou called the incident part of a broader pattern, linking youth violence to social media exposure. Macron’s proposal follows similar measures abroad, including Australia’s recent ban on social media for under-16s—a policy critics argue is easily circumvented.
The tragedy has intensified scrutiny over online influences and school safety, with Macron vowing to implement reforms within months.s