A tragic incident unfolded at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Monday, resulting in the death of one student and the injury of another.
A 14-year-old student is currently in custody, facing charges of murder as a juvenile. The school remained closed on Tuesday following the incident.
Footage of the altercation surfaced on social media, depicting a boy cornering another before launching a series of punches. The conflict escalated, spilling into the school gym, with other students in pursuit, some cheering, others capturing the scene on their mobile devices.
The situation took a deadly turn when one of the students, who had been knocked to the ground, brandished a knife, stabbing another student in the leg and groin. The 15-year-old victim subsequently lost consciousness and was later pronounced dead. A 16-year-old student also sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.
The brawl erupted shortly before 11 am on Monday, prompting a School Resource Officer to alert the police and emergency medical services. A distressing call over the police radio relayed the urgency of the situation, with a woman stating, "He's losing consciousness right now. We're in the main gym." The response instructed the school to initiate a "lockdown."
The suspect was apprehended by the School Resource Officer, with local law enforcement confirming that "the scene is secure, and this appears to be an isolated incident."
In a public statement, Raleigh Police announced, "There is currently a large police presence at Southeast Raleigh High School due to a serious assault. The scene is secure, and this appears to be an isolated incident. Please avoid the area around the school."
Parents were informed of the incident through a subsequent message, and a Code Red lockdown followed by a "controlled" dismissal was implemented on Monday.
In the aftermath of the incident, counselors will be available at the school to assist students in dealing with their grief. School Superintendent Robert Taylor, while noting that the school and other Wake County schools do not employ metal detectors, stated that students are searched if staff have a "reasonable suspicion that a student has a weapon." He pledged to "review all of our safety processes and protocols."
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