A middle school student in southern China has died after stabbing a classmate and then jumping from a school building, local authorities said on Friday.

The incident occurred at around 8:36 pm on Sept 11 at Dongxing Middle School in Dongxing, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Xu, the assailant, attacked his classmate Chen with a knife, then fled the scene and jumped to his death. Despite rescue efforts, Xu was pronounced dead. Chen is currently receiving treatment in a hospital and is in stable condition.

An investigation was initiated following the incident by the city authorities. Authorities reviewed school surveillance footage and interviewed teachers and students, finding no evidence of a pattern of bullying.

Earlier that day, around 3 pm, Xu believed that Chen and two other students were mocking him during a conversation. Xu responded by chasing them with a broom, but the class teacher intervened and reprimanded all parties involved.

Later that evening, during a study session, Xu and the same group of students got into another argument. Xu then took a concealed knife from his bag and attacked Chen. He subsequently ran from the first-floor classroom to the fourth floor, where he jumped over a corridor railing.

No one pursued or coerced Xu during his escape.

On Sept 22 at 4:30 pm, investigators briefed Xu's family on the findings and allowed them to view the surveillance footage from the day of the incident, as well as Xu's social media posts and messages that suggested suicidal tendencies.

In response to the incident, the Dongxing government pledged to address the safety and mental health issues highlighted by the tragedy. The city plans to conduct a comprehensive review of campus safety, enhance psychological support for students, and implement measures to ensure long-term campus safety and stability.