Authorities in Billings are continuing their investigation into a classroom stabbing at Senior High School that left a teacher and an 18-year-old student hospitalized more than two months ago, with no arrests or charges filed so far.
The incident occurred in January inside a classroom belonging to teacher Jason Rader, sending shockwaves through the local community. Both Rader and the student, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, sustained stab wounds and were rushed to hospital.
Billings Police Chief Rich St. John said the case remains complex, partly due to the circumstances surrounding the initial response.
“Our officers were responding to what they believed was a mass casualty event at a high school,” he said, noting that the scale of the response and the seriousness of the situation added to the challenge.
Investigators are currently reviewing a large volume of evidence, including accounts from students and staff, many of which are conflicting. Police say the magnitude of the incident and the need to carefully analyze all details have contributed to the delay in filing charges.
“There are cases that move very quickly because they are clear-cut,” St. John said. “In this situation, the scale of what we’re sorting through requires more time.”
Despite concerns about delays, the police chief emphasized that the investigation is progressing steadily and remains a priority.
“We haven’t stopped working on it,” he said. “We are closer than not to completing our part, and it will be handled thoroughly and professionally.”
Once the investigation is completed, the case will be forwarded to the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office for review. Chief Deputy County Attorney Hallie Bishop said prosecutors are awaiting the file before taking further action.
“We communicate with law enforcement, but until the case is formally presented, there is little we can do,” she said.
Bishop also cautioned that even after receiving the case, further time will be needed for legal review. She noted that complex cases rarely proceed as quickly as portrayed in television crime dramas, describing this misconception as the “CSI effect.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether criminal charges will be filed.
English (United States) ·