In another tragic example of what some are calling a parenting epidemic in the nation, a high school student has died after being knifed in a fight that was caught on camera.
Southeast Raleigh High School in North Carolina was closed Tuesday as students and faculty dealt with the brutal reality of violence that erupted the day before, with one 15-year-old dead, a 16-year-old injured, and a 14-year-old student arrested and charged with murder.
“This is a very unfortunate incident that has occurred today,” Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said during a press conference. “One that is very disturbing to us.”
“The initial call to Raleigh police came in at 11:01 a.m., when a school resource officer called for EMS and backup, saying a student had been stabbed,” WRAL reported. “Eventually another student was found with injuries consistent with a stabbing.”
“Video taken by students shows multiple perspectives of the fight, which seems to have started outside the gymnasium and then spilled inside, with students following the fight as it unfolded,” the outlet added.
**WARNING: Disturbing Content**
“Footage shows the moment a mass brawl broke out at a #NorthCarolina high school, leaving one student dead and another in hospital.” pic.twitter.com/Ktv1sSM4CQ
— The Daily Sneed™ (@Tr00peRR) November 28, 2023
“In the aftermath of today’s tragedy we will review all of our safety processes and protocols to determine what happened, what changes need to be made,” Wake County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor said during the press conference. “Following that review I will work with our board to pursue any additional improvement options that may prevent such actions of violence in the future.”
A Code Red lockdown was enforced at the school as police, EMS and other first responders arrived on the scene and rendered first aid to the victims.
“Both victims were transported to an area hospital,” the police chief said. “Sadly, one victim succumbed to his injuries.”
Questions arose about how a student would have been able to bring a knife or other weapon into the school and reporters asked the superintendent about it during the press conference.
“We don’t use metal detectors,” Taylor said. “But we do have processes and protocols, where if there’s a reasonable suspicion a student has a weapon, we will search that student. That’s the extent of what we do at this point.”
The mother of one of the students involved told WRAL News that her son, the alleged stabber who is seen wearing a red hoodie at the beginning of the video, was only acting in self-defense.
“I don’t believe he took the knife into school,” Cherelle McLaughlin said. “I believe he got the knife from somebody in the school because he did not go to school with a knife. I dropped him off at school, he did not go to school with it.”
“The whole situation is terrible,” she added. “I feel bad for the other family but in return, I feel bad for my son because he was fighting for his life. It wasn’t a fair fight. I just don’t think it should have happened like that.”
The school was closed to allow families and staff the “time and space to process” and Taylor expressed his condolences.
“I want to share my condolences with the family and loved ones of the victim. As a parent I cannot imagine getting that call, I just can’t. I offer my prayers for those affected,” he said. “However, most importantly, I pledge my resolve. School should be a safe haven for our students and staff.”
Social media users quickly weighed in on yet another tragedy in the nation’s schools, with many believing the suspect was acting in self-defense.
The degradation of the nuclear family will continue to ruin our society.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 28, 2023
Each and every kid fighting, cheering or filming this should be immediately expelled. We cannot allow these 20-on-1 attacks to perpetuate. This was bound to happen.
— Erich Hartmann (@erichhartmann) November 28, 2023
The best thing you can do is get your kids out of public schools and homeschool your kids if it is possible for you and your family.
That student was clearly being jumped by a gang of thugs, we have recently seen what happened to Jonathan Lewis when he was attacked. RIP pic.twitter.com/L0MasgMByd
— Suhr Majesty ™ (@ULTRA_MAJESTY) November 28, 2023
He was in fact fighting for his life there is no question about that and if he had not had the knife I have no doubt he would have likely been killed or irreparably injured – I can’t believe this is a US public school and these are teenagers – it’s shocking.
— Dea Riley (@DeaRileyKY) November 28, 2023
How can people so young be so full of such hate and violence
— Phoebe Dinsmore (@PhoebeDinsmore_) November 28, 2023
All that diversity they teach and gender affirmation and oppression . What could go wrong
— Knight (@EricKnight505) November 28, 2023
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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