The Final Bell and the Sound of Chaos
January 13, 2026, began as a routine winter day at Billings Senior High School in Billings, Montana. Students attended classes as usual and prepared for after-school activities and upcoming finals. Snow and cold marked the season outside, while inside the school, multiple groups gathered across different floors.
Shortly after regular school hours, at approximately 4:23 p.m., students were still present in the building for junior varsity and varsity basketball meetings, orchestra practice, and driver’s education sessions. A wrestling tournament and concert were also scheduled for later that evening.
On the third floor of the school, an altercation occurred between a female student and a male teacher. School officials later stated that the student attacked the teacher with a knife, inflicting multiple stab wounds. Moments after the attack, the student also sustained stab wounds to herself.
Staff immediately notified 911 and initiated a lockdown of the building. Police, fire, and emergency medical responders arrived within minutes. Students were directed into secure areas, including the gymnasium, while officers secured the scene.
Both the teacher and the student were transported to a local hospital. Authorities confirmed later that evening that both individuals survived and were in stable condition. Law enforcement stated that all parties involved had been accounted for and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
The school campus was surrounded by emergency vehicles as streets were blocked off and investigators began processing the scene. What began as an ordinary Tuesday afternoon ended with shock, fear, and uncertainty for the school community.
A Teacher in the Line of Duty
Jason Rader is a math teacher at Billings Senior High School and the identified victim of the stabbing.
Little personal information about Mr. Rader has been publicly released. School officials described him only as a staff member who was injured while present on campus after regular school hours. He sustained stab wounds during the incident and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.
District officials later confirmed that he was in stable condition and recovering. Out of respect for his privacy and the integrity of the ongoing criminal investigation, no further details regarding his injuries or personal background have been disclosed.
Counselors and crisis response teams were deployed when the school reopened, acknowledging the emotional impact the attack had on students and staff.
From Classroom to Crime Scene
The moment the building was placed into lockdown marked a dramatic shift from a school environment to an active crime scene.
Authorities confirmed that the teacher and the student were the only two individuals directly involved in the altercation. No additional suspects were identified. The student was also injured and transported to the hospital for treatment.
Classes and extracurricular activities were canceled the following day as the district focused on safety and emotional support for the community. When school resumed, crisis counselors and support teams were present throughout the building.
The superintendent emphasized that protecting student and staff privacy was a priority and that identifying information would not be released while the investigation remained active.
As news of the incident spread, speculation appeared online regarding the identity and motives of those involved. District officials declined to comment on those claims, stating only confirmed facts and reiterating that the case remained under investigation.
Lockdown and Accountability
Billings Police Department, fire crews, and emergency medical services responded rapidly after the stabbing was reported. The building was placed into lockdown while officers secured the third floor and confirmed that no additional threat existed.
Students who were attending after-school activities were directed into controlled areas for their safety. Streets surrounding the school were closed to allow emergency vehicles access to the scene.
The school district initiated an after-action review to examine how the incident was handled. This included evaluating lockdown procedures, emergency communication, and response coordination between school staff and first responders.
District officials acknowledged that behavioral threat assessments had been difficult to complete in recent months and that mental health resources had been expanded during the school year. Crisis counselors were made available immediately after the school reopened.
A debrief process began involving school administrators and law enforcement to identify strengths and weaknesses in the response.
What Authorities Have Confirmed
Law enforcement and school officials have confirmed that the stabbing occurred on January 13, 2026, at approximately 4:23 p.m. on the third floor of Billings Senior High School. A student attacked a teacher with a knife, and the student later sustained stab wounds to herself.
Both individuals were transported to a hospital and were reported to be in stable condition. Authorities confirmed that no one else was involved in the incident and that there was no ongoing threat to students or the public.
The building was placed into lockdown immediately after staff contacted 911. Classes and extracurricular activities were canceled the following day. When students returned, crisis support teams and counselors were present throughout the school.
The investigation remains active. As of this report, no criminal charges have been publicly announced. Officials have stated that they are continuing to examine the circumstances and motive surrounding the incident while protecting the privacy of those involved.
Unverified Online Behavior and Public Speculation
Unconfirmed reports circulating online have focused on the student’s social media activity prior to the incident. These claims have not been verified by law enforcement or school officials.
According to online observers, the student’s social media accounts contained posts about fashion and daily outfits, along with reposted content referencing student-teacher relationships and romanticized narratives involving obsession. Some posts reportedly referenced media about violent relationships and fictionalized portrayals of fixation and control.
It has also been claimed that the student had Pinterest boards containing phrases and imagery related to romanticized teacher-student dynamics. These claims remain unverified and have not been cited by authorities as evidence or motive.
There is no official confirmation that any inappropriate relationship occurred. Law enforcement has not released information regarding motive, mental state, or personal communications between the student and teacher.
All such online observations remain speculation and are not part of the confirmed investigative record.
Questions Without Answers
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What motivated the student to attack the teacher?
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What occurred in the moments immediately before the stabbing?
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Why did the student stab herself after the attack?
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Were any warning signs identified before the incident?
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Did prior behavioral assessments raise concerns?
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Will criminal charges be filed?
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What role, if any, did mental health factors play?
Those at the Center
Jason Rader – Victim – Math teacher at Billings Senior High School who sustained stab wounds.
Kaylie Wirkman Lear – Suspect – 18-year-old student alleged to have carried out the attack and then injured herself.