Boy Attacked with Machete in Poplar, Montana

10-year-old victim hospitalized with severe knee injury, police investigating incident

Apr. 4, 2026 at 3:49am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a machete blade against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash to create a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A chilling close-up of the weapon used in a brutal attack on a 10-year-old boy in Poplar, Montana, sparking outrage and calls for greater community support to address youth violence.Billings Today

A 10-year-old boy was attacked and slashed with a machete in Poplar, Montana, sending him to the hospital with a severe knee injury that required multiple surgeries. Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with the incident, which was captured on video and shared widely on social media before being taken down.

Why it matters

Violent attacks involving weapons like machetes against young children are extremely concerning and raise questions about public safety, juvenile crime, and the need for greater community support and intervention programs in areas like Poplar that have struggled with high rates of poverty and violence.

The details

According to the boy's grandmother, Kathy Red Eagle, the attack occurred on Monday night just half a mile from her home. The injury to the boy's knee was so severe it required surgery on Tuesday and a second surgery on Thursday. Red Eagle said the cut was three-quarters of an inch deep and nearly severed the boy's main tendon, leaving him facing a long recovery process with extensive physical therapy.

  • The attack occurred on Monday night in Poplar, Montana.
  • The boy underwent surgery on his knee on Tuesday.
  • The boy underwent a second surgery on his knee on Thursday.

The players

Kathy Red Eagle

The 10-year-old boy's grandmother, who was informed of the attack and rushed her grandson to the emergency room.

The 10-year-old boy

The victim of the machete attack, who suffered a severe knee injury requiring multiple surgeries.

Three juveniles

The individuals who have been arrested in connection with the attack on the 10-year-old boy.

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What they’re saying

“She was crying and said (the boy) just called me and said he was stabbed. Get to the ER. Get my mom.”

— Kathy Red Eagle, Grandmother of the victim

“I saw how deep the cut was. They almost cut his leg off. It was three-quarters inch. They cut a main tendon. He's going to have a lot of physical therapy.”

— Kathy Red Eagle, Grandmother of the victim

“I hope they pay for what they did.”

— Kathy Red Eagle, Grandmother of the victim

What’s next

Law enforcement in Poplar continues to investigate the incident, and the three juveniles arrested in connection with the attack are expected to face charges.

The takeaway

This violent attack on a young child in Poplar highlights the ongoing challenges of youth violence and the need for greater community support and intervention programs to address the root causes of such incidents and prevent them from occurring in the future.