THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — The man accused of stabbing a teacher outside Meadow Community School in Thornton is now facing multiple felony charges, as new details raise questions about why he was ever released from prison.
According to the affidavit filed by Thornton police, 31-year-old Damien Brooks is charged with attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault after a sudden, random attack last Thursday afternoon.
Officers were called to the 9100 block of Monroe Street just after 3 p.m., as students were being dismissed from school. When police arrived, they found a teacher suffering from multiple stab wounds. Investigators say Brooks and the victim did not know each other, calling it a “completely random act of violence.”
Police say Brooks later told investigators he felt no remorse for the attack, saying, “I should have just killed him.”
The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that it filed charges against Brooks of:
- First-degree attempted murder
- First-degree assault
- Two counts of a crime of violence, which are sentence-enhancing charges
Court records show Brooks has a long criminal history, including felony charges for attempted homicide, menacing, and assault with serious bodily injury, along with parole violations as recently as 2024.
Former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey says the attack is part of a disturbing pattern involving repeat violent offenders.
“You have a totally innocent victim — he’s out there doing his job, trying to make sure kids are getting across the street safely at an elementary school, and someone comes up and stabs him,” Morrissey said.
“The criminal justice system is failing the people of Colorado. When these kinds of guys are under their control and still able to go out and do the kinds of things that happened to this victim — it’s a terrible situation,” he added.
Brooks remains in police custody and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 18 for a preliminary hearing.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
