WINSTON-SALEM, NC (WGHP) — An altercation between two students at North Forsyth High School turned deadly Tuesday morning.
This is what we know so far.
The altercation between the students turns deadly
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools operated on a two-hour delay due to winter weather Tuesday morning and the first bell rang at 10:55 am in North Forsyth. The fatal stabbing happened just moments later.
Tuesday morning, a large law enforcement and EMS presence was seen at the school. Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said the SRO in North Forsyth “sent out a communication that he needed all hands on deck” around 11:04 am
Kimbrough confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that there was a “loss of life” as a result of “an altercation between two students.” Kimbrough released another statement Tuesday night, confirming that a stabbing had taken place.
Winston-Salem Police Department Chief William Penn also spoke at Tuesday afternoon’s press conference, saying it was “a dark day for our city.” He also criticized people for allegedly sharing a video of the fatal stabbing on the internet, urging people to “please think about the insensitive nature of what you are doing. This is not the time to run.”
Newly sworn-in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Don Phipps spoke at a press conference Tuesday afternoon and confirmed that North Forsyth will be closed to students Wednesday because of the fatal stabbing. A crisis team will be on site.
“Today is any educator’s worst nightmare,” Phipps said. “We are hurt when our students are hurt, and this is the ultimate hurt we can possibly feel.”
Phipps was scheduled to have a speaking engagement at a local church on Tuesday at noon. However, those plans were changed by the fatal stabbing.
Phipps also reached out to families in North Forsyth in an email Tuesday afternoon. “Violence has no place in our schools,” he said in part. “We are calling on our community to surround our students and staff with kindness and care at this moment.
The WS/FCS Board of Education was scheduled to meet Tuesday evening and that meeting is being rescheduled.
The name of the student who was killed or anyone involved has not yet been released by investigators. However, the families of those involved have been notified and there is no danger to the community.
It is still unclear whether or not the weapons detection system was in use in North Forsyth Tuesday morning. It is also not known what type of weapon was used in the stabbing.
Public reaction
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein called the stabbing “shocking” and “horrific” and said he was praying for the students and their loved ones.
Kimbrough asked for prayers for the families and the community, calling it “another sad day in Forsyth County,” and described the call the NFHS SRO made to the sheriff’s office.
Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said, “On behalf of the City of Winston-Salem, I extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and community of North Forsyth High School during this time of immeasurable loss.”
On Tuesday evening, Kimbrough shared a statement on social media, encouraging parents to talk to their children and love them. He also asked again for prayers for the community.
“They are all hurting. I need your prayers. The school system needs your prayers. The students in North Forsyth need your prayers. There is a family whose son will be getting on the bus right now on the way home, but he is not. He lost his life in a knife incident at school,” said Kimbrough.
NFHS parents picked up their children from a reunification site after the stabbing.
Hilda Foster, grandmother of an NFHS student, spoke to FOX8 as students and parents were reunited.
“It was just devastating that something like this would happen today,” she said. “It’s sad that we’re coming to this. I just hate that this world is this way. I really am. I hope we all come together in unity and great faith.”
Foster says her niece called her mother and said she was scared when she heard people screaming at the school.
“This is not something you want to hear from your child at school,” Foster said.
She encouraged parents to talk to their children and listen to them.
Students were taken by bus from campus to the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum to be safely reunited with their parents.
As the students waited inside the Coliseum, the parents lined up outside. Parents were given reunification forms to fill out and had to show photo identification to be reunited with their children.
Many parents say the hours after the accident were terrifying and nerve-wracking.
“It was scary. One thing she did was reassure me that she was safe. I think the most horrendous part is that the kids are sitting around the video of what happened and what happened, and the trauma that they will continue to feel when they see that video here, and people talking about the incident is just a very, very traumatic situation,” said Ebony Berry, a parent.
One mother says that not only her son was inside the school at the time, but her husband also works there, and he called her earlier that morning asking her to pray.
She described the fear and uncertainty of waiting for updates, and said it was difficult not knowing what was happening or when she would hear from either her son or her husband.
“I think absolutely that some therapy sessions will need … that they have. More than just a counselor coming. They’re all going to need some therapy and some counseling,” said Crystal Hopper, a parent.
Parents and students were eventually reunited before Tuesday evening at the Coliseum. Many embraced after a long and emotional day.
“The hardest part was being there waiting for him. I just needed to put my eyes on him to make sure he was Ok because, as kids, they don’t process things the same way we do… Putting my arms around him made all the difference,” said Hopper.
Many parents are worried about the heartache the students are now left with.
“I’m so sad right now because my son knows who they are. I’m hurt right now. I’m hurt. All I know is I hope they have grief counselors there for the rest of the school year for these students. School just started this morning, and these students are going to need a lot of support now,” said Tracy Russell, a parent.
“Those are two kids who did something very wrong. I don’t think this reflects on everyone in the school and the building and all the students, all the faculty. I don’t think it’s a reflection of them directly. But at this current moment, I don’t feel safe,” said Wayne Graham, a parent.
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