Tragic Incident at Southeast Raleigh High School: 14-year-old Charged in Fatal Stabbing

On Monday morning, Nov. 27, 2023, at Southeast Raleigh High School, two students were stabbed during an incident; one of them has since died from his injuries.

A 14-year-old has been accused with killing one student and seriously wounding another following a brawl that broke out at Southeast Raleigh High School early on Monday.

Tuesday's classes at the school are cancelled. Officials claim that the stabbing incident was captured on camera and occurred in the gym. At 11:01 a.m., a school resource officer radioed for assistance after a minor was stabbed during a fight involving other pupils. 

Raleigh Police have secured custody of a 14-year-old male juvenile, charged with murder on a juvenile petition. Chief of Police Estella Patterson declined to confirm whether the suspect is enrolled as a student.

The student, 15, passed away after being transported to a nearby hospital; his name has not been made public. According to Patterson, the second student, who is sixteen years old, is still being treated for non-life-threatening injuries in the hospital.

At a press conference with Patterson, Wake County Superintendent Robert Taylor remarked, "I want to share my condolences." "I can't image receiving that call as a parent. That's just not anything I can imagine." 

He went on, "I extend my prayers to those impacted." But most of all, I promise to remain resolute in my belief that staff and kids should feel safe and secure in schools. We will evaluate all of our safety procedures and guidelines in light of the tragedy that occurred today.

In response to an ongoing investigation, Southeast Raleigh High School implemented a Code Red lockdown, as announced on the school's official website. Both the Raleigh Police Department and the school administration urged individuals to steer clear of the high school premises located on Rock Quarry Road for the duration of the investigation. When the building is under Code Red lockdown, everything is locked. Nobody is allowed in or out until the cops give the all-clear. 

Police barricade an entrance to Southeast Raleigh High School amid a Code Red lockdown.

"It's incredibly depressing." 

Parents were instructed to travel to Lot D of Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in order to pick up their children from school. Students arrived at the lot in buses to meet up with their parents. 

Dozens of parents were waiting for the youngsters to be dismissed on Monday afternoon, including Nikki Pendleton. 

She claimed that the stabbing footage was graphic. Videos that several students have shared on social media seem to show the altercation moving into the gym, where a knife is seen. 

Pendleton declared that the next time she saw her 17-year-old son, she would give him a big embrace.    She said to The News & Observer, "He's hanging in there as much as he can." It's really challenging. You want your kids to go learn when you send them to school. This kind of stuff is not what you want to happen. 

However, she added, "a lot of families will be going through this for a while." 

Parents wait in the Walnut Creek Amphitheater parking lot to see their children again after a student at Southeast Raleigh High School was fatally murdered.

In addition, Larry Cozart intended to give his child a firm hug. Next school year, Cozart plans to try to get his 16-year-old daughter enrolled in a different school. 

Cozart stated in an interview, "It's the craziest thing I have ever heard in my life." "It is truly heartbreaking that you are unable to send your child to school."

Cozart expressed his shock that a pupil had passed away at the institution. According to Cozart, "things are changing." There was nothing like that going on when we went to school. However, these parents lack authority over their children.

"THAT HAPPENED TODAY IS ABSURD."

According to Southeast Raleigh High School's website, Principal George Harden said that the school will be closed on Tuesday "to give us the time and space to process today's events."

In expressing his condolences, he conveyed, "It is with deep sorrow that we acknowledge the passing of a cherished member of our school community. We want to emphasize that the student who has left us held significant value within our school, and we share in the sorrow of this loss with his dear ones. Our hearts go out to them during this difficult time, and we stand united in grief." However, student privacy laws prevent me from sharing specific information about the victim." 

Parents realise the seriousness of the double stabbing death at Southeast Raleigh High School.

On Tuesday, parents can contact the front office at 919-856-2800 if their children require assistance. Classes are cancelled, but someone will still answer. Students and employees can also get support from members of the Employee Support and Wellness team and the Crisis team of the school system. 

Expressing the somber events of the day, Harden stated, "Regrettably, we mourn the loss of one student, and another has sustained severe injuries." "We are committed to a thorough examination of the incident, and we will implement necessary measures to ensure that our school remains a safe and conducive environment for students to learn, develop, and flourish. What happened today is unacceptable."