Girl impersonates 'The Joker,' attacks teacher

VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A South Vermillion High School student who appeared to have everything going for her, attacked out against her teacher.

However, it's the details of how she snapped that are sending shock waves.

"The teachers and the school staff and the student body, I think is really kind of in awe that a student of this nature did these types of actions," Vermillion County Sheriff Robert Spence said.

The South Vermillion junior had been a model student. That all quickly changed.

Police said it started when she went into the bathroom. There, she put on white make up, red lipstick, and took out a razor.

She then cut her face, some say to resemble the Joker from the movie "The Dark Knight."

After that she knocked on the classroom door. No one in the class will forget what happened next.

"She pulls the knife and begins to make actions toward the teacher, like she was going to cut her, slice her, or stab her," Spence said.

That's when the teacher had to act fast. She was able to keep the girl at bay by blocking her with a desk. She even used a chair to hold her back until more help arrived.

Her efforts allowed most of the students to escape within minutes. No one was hurt, but parents were on edge when they found out.

"Your hearts up in your throat, and then it's down and then your blood pressure gets back to normal and everything's fine, you know, once you hear your own child's voice," Mary Rowe, who has a son at South Vermillion High School said.

The names of the girl and the teacher haven't been releaed, but News 10 did find out the girl was taken taken to a mental health facility in Bloomington for further evaluation and treatment.

Police are still investigating why the girl lashed out.

The teacher is said to be doing well, and is considered a hero by many for her actions.