RALEIGH, NC – A North Carolina high school was the scene of a horrifying incident on Monday, with a stabbing leading to the death of one student and injury to another. The violent episode occurred in the gym of Southeast Raleigh High School during the morning session.
A juvenile, whose connection to the school remains unknown, is currently in police custody as a suspect in the incident, as reported by Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.
While the identity of the deceased student has been kept confidential by the authorities, the injured student is in the hospital, fortunately with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Patterson.
In a joint press conference with Patterson, Wake County Superintendent Robert Taylor expressed his concern over the incident, emphasizing the importance of schools as safe environments for students and staff. He assured that the incident will prompt a thorough review of the school’s safety measures and protocols.
School Violence Problems Unaddressed:
Asheville City Schools Fail to Report Serious Crimes to NC School Board
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A recent investigation by the Citizen Times has revealed that Asheville City Schools failed to report multiple serious crimes, including sexual assaults and robberies, to the North Carolina School Board. Over a period of five years, at least 39 alleged crimes were documented in Asheville Police Department reports but were not included in the annual accounting to the General Assembly.
According to the investigation, the crimes took place between 2017 and 2021, with one report even stemming from 2022. These crimes included rapes, assaults causing serious injury, and robberies with firearms. However, when the N.C. School Board released its yearly Consolidated Data Report, these incidents were not included.
North Carolina law mandates that all public schools notify state officials about acts of violence occurring on their premises. The N.C. School Board has included 16 reportable criminal offenses in their interpretation of the law, which are compiled into the annual report. This report is used to assess school safety by education officials, legislators, and parents.
Among the incidents left unreported was the sexual assault of David Frary’s 5-year-old son in the bathroom of Isaac Dickson Elementary, as well as an aggravated assault at Lucy S. Herring Elementary that resulted in a student’s skull being broken by another fourth-grader. Both incidents were described as intentional acts by concerned parents.
As a result of the investigation, parents and educators alike are calling for more transparency and accountability from the school district. The failure to report these crimes raises serious concerns about the safety and well-being of students in Asheville City Schools.
Former Isaac Dickson Principal Brad Johnson, now the principal of West Buncombe Elementary, referred questions to Buncombe County Schools communications staff. Meanwhile, former Lucy Herring Principal Ruletta Hughes, now the principal at Isaac Dickson, did not respond to requests for comment.
It is essential for parents and students to have confidence in the safety measures implemented by schools. The failure to report these crimes undermines that trust and prevents a comprehensive assessment of the measures needed to protect children in the future.
Asheville City Schools must address this issue promptly and take appropriate action to ensure the safety and well-being of students in their care.