Society

Junior high school student in Saitama stabbed to death by classmate

Jul 07 (Japan Today) - A male junior high school student died Saturday after being stabbed the previous day by a fellow student in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, according to police.

A 14-year-old student was held on suspicion of attempted murder after Kotaro Hongo, 13, was found Friday near the arrested student's home with stab wounds to his upper body, the police said Saturday.

Kotaro was taken unconscious and in critical condition to a hospital but died of his wounds early Saturday.

The police believe the two began quarreling while studying together at the 14-year-old student's home. His grandmother was at home at the time.

The 14-year-old boy has admitted to the stabbing, telling the police that they had had "a quarrel about a textbook."

Another student who was on his way join them to study for their final exams found Kotaro lying in front of the home, according to the police.

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