Flowers are palced by Daejeon citizens in front of an elementary school in DaeJeon, where a first-grade girl was murdered, Feb. 11. Yonhap

Citizens of the central city of Daejeon said Tuesday they were shocked and heartbroken by the murder of a young student at the hands of her teacher the previous day.

The 8-year-old victim, named Kim Ha-neul, was found with stab wounds at her elementary school in western Daejeon on Monday afternoon and a female teacher in her 40s admitted to stabbing the girl to death for unknown reasons.

Beginning Tuesday morning, a stream of citizens mourning her death visited the school to leave chrysanthemums, dolls and sweets at the school gate.

A portrait of a 8-year-old victim, named Kim Ha-neul, is displayed at an alter at Konyang University Hospital in Daejeon, Feb. 11. Newsis

"I'm shocked, angry and as a parent, I feel heartbroken. I hope she will rest in peace in heaven. I'm really worried about how her parents will feel," said Cheon Seong-hwan, a 50-year-old man whose two sons attend the same school.

Lim Hye-jin, 37, who came to pay her respects with her husband and son, a third-year student at the school, also said, "My child said he was scared because an accident like this occurred at his school."

Among the flowers and dolls laid at the school gate, a note was visible that reads, "Baby, don't be in pain and close your eyes comfortably. I'm sorry."

A 67-year-old woman surnamed Han told reporters that her daughter said she is afraid to send her son to the school. "I heard the teacher who is the murder suspect suffered from depression. No matter how depressed the teacher was, how could she think of killing that little child?"

A 12-year-old student of the school said, "I can't believe someone was killed at our school and I'm scared that something like this will happen again." (Yonhap)

Police conduct an on-site inspection on the second floor of an elementary school in Daejeon, where a female teacher in her 40s stabbed an 8-year-old student to death, Feb. 10. Yonhap