A tragic incident unfolded at a high school in Forsyth County, North Carolina, where a student lost their life following a fight with another student. Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. spoke on the heart-wrenching event, urging the community to rally in support and pray for the affected families, as the community faces what he described as “another sad day.”
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Sheriff Kimbrough detailed that the situation at North Forsyth High School escalated shortly after 11 a.m. The school’s resource officer had issued a call for assistance, signaling a serious situation requiring immediate attention.
Upon the arrival of deputies, it became apparent that a physical altercation between two students had taken a devastating turn. “In the course of this altercation, a life was tragically lost,” Kimbrough revealed. He assured the public that the families involved had been notified and emphasized that there was no ongoing threat to the broader community.
Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn Jr. expressed the deep impact the incident has had on the city, describing it as a “dark day” that had profoundly shaken the community. He affirmed the commitment of his department to work alongside other agencies in thoroughly investigating the incident to uncover the details of what transpired.
The shocking loss at North Forsyth High has prompted law enforcement and school officials to call for unity and community support, as they cope with the aftermath of this unsettling event.
Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn Jr. said, “It’s a dark day for our city,” adding that the violence at the school “has shaken us to our very core.” He said his department is serving as an assisting agency in the investigation and is committed to helping identify exactly what happened.
Penn urged residents not to share videos or images from the incident online, saying it is “not the time to clout chase,” and warned that doing so is insensitive to the students and families affected.
He said the city, school staff and students at North Forsyth High School will need community support in the days ahead and asked residents to come together to “put an end to senseless violence.”
Investigators on scene after a student was killed in a fight at North Forsyth High in North Carolina. (Credit: WGHP)
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Don Phipps said his thoughts and prayers are with the students, staff and families impacted by the fatal altercation.
He thanked law enforcement and medical first responders for their quick response and praised school faculty and staff for acting swiftly during the emergency.
Phipps said, “Today is the worst nightmare of any educator” and that the district is hurting “when our students hurt.”
Police did not release the identities of the students involved in the fatal fight. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
He announced that North Forsyth High School would be closed for students on Wednesday and said crisis teams will be available for faculty and staff, with services extended to students once they return. The superintendent also encouraged parents and guardians to use the school’s website for resources if immediate needs arise.
Kimbrough said he would not answer questions or provide further details about what led to the altercation, citing the ongoing investigation. He emphasized that authorities are still gathering information and said releasing specifics too early could compromise the case.
“I know there’s a lot of questions that you probably have, but it’s an ongoing investigation,” Kimbrough said. “I won’t be answering any questions right now. As soon as we bring closure, what I will tell you is we will push the information out to you as we’ve always been transparent.”
Kimbrough said he had just left the victim’s family and repeated that what they need most right now is prayer.
He said the governor reached out with condolences and urged the community to take time to reflect, talk with their children, and support students who witnessed the incident.
“We have some work to do in our community,” Kimbrough said.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein reacted to the stabbing on X.
“The stabbing that took place at North Forsyth High School is shocking and horrible,” he wrote. “I am praying for all students in the community and their loved ones. North Carolinians need to be safe wherever they are — especially in school. I have spoken with Sheriff Kimbrough to offer my support. We must never stop working toward a safer North Carolina.”
