Bemidji High Student, 18, Faces Charges After Fight, Knife Discovery

Demario Rico Gayden, 18, of Puposky, faces a felony weapons charge in Beltrami County District Court after a fight at Bemidji High School sent two teachers to the hospital and a 12-inch foldable knife was found in his backpack.

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office responded to the school at approximately 9:45 a.m. on March 24 following reports of a fight involving multiple students. The school principal told the responding deputy that Gayden had assaulted multiple people. Deputy Beise located Gayden in a school bathroom and placed him under arrest.

At the Beltrami County Jail, deputies searched the backpack Gayden was wearing at the time of his arrest. Inside, they found a black foldable knife with a blade approximately six inches long and a total length of more than 12 inches. A criminal complaint was filed March 25.

Gayden is charged with felony possession of a dangerous weapon on school property and misdemeanor fifth-degree assault. Two teachers were injured in the altercation and hospitalized; their conditions have not been released publicly.

Parents reported receiving no official notification from the Bemidji School District following the incident and raised concerns about communication and safety. The district has not publicly addressed what notifications were sent, what threat assessment process was followed, or what safety measures such as bag checks or reporting channels are currently in place at the school.

Gayden's next court date, conditions of release, and attorney information had not been made public as of Saturday.