The perpetrator later confessed to the crime, telling police investigators that "life was meaningless".

The children were attacked outside the gates by a man as they were arriving for school at 7:20 am local time (UTC+8).

[11] The Associated Press reported that, according to a Nanping city government official who refused to be named, Zheng had a history of mental health issues.

[12] Zheng later told police that he thought life was meaningless,[7] and confessed to the crime.

[14] At the trial, police stated that Zheng had no history of mental illness, contradicting earlier reports.