No arrests made, investigation ongoing after student shot in leg outside of RJ Reynolds High School, Forsyth County Sheriff's Office says
Dec 11, 2024
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — Officials have offered an update about where they stand in the investigation of a shooting on the campus of a Triad school
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office held a press conference at 11 a.m. to address the incident outside of R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem that left a student shot in the leg.
Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said that the investigation is still active and that he has spoken with the victim's mother throughout the situation, passing along her message to ask people to put the guns down and not resort to violence. He said that the process went smoothly yesterday.
"This has happened too many times in our community," he said. "We are better than this."
Superintendent Tricia McManus thanked law enforcement and school officials for their quick and efficient response from the lockdown to the reunification of students who were still on campus with their parents.
"We have a crisis team there," McManus said, saying this is what they do any time there is an incident like this on campus, though she said many parents kept their children at home on Wednesday.
"We are so thankful that our student is okay and that everyone has rallied around out school," she said.
The Winston-Salem Police Department also spoke, thanking the other responding law enforcement agencies for their assistance and emphasizing that the police and sheriff's office work "well" together.
The WSPD asked people to register their cameras so that they can use them during investigations, if they want to help in incidents like these.
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill emphasized that they're limited in how much specific information they can release about the case. He coaches lacrosse at Reynolds High School and he said it was an upsetting phone call to receive.
"Rest assured law enforcement will continue to work this case diligently and the person responsible for this will be brought to justice," he said, reminding citizens that the law around juvenile justice changed effective Dec. 1, and now 16-17 year old offenders will be taken to adult court for any violent felony charges.
Kimbrough also emphasized that while the victim's injuries are not life-threatening, the psychological and emotional impact of situations like this are likely to effect the victim and the other young people at the school for a long time.
Background
Officials say around 3:45 p.m., after school dismissal, there was a fight near Northwest Boulevard, on campus but not inside R.J. Reynolds High School. A student at Reynolds was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital. At last check, the school district said the victim was stable.
No other students were hurt. The school went into a lockdown, but all students who were still on campus were reunited with their families after the lockdown was lifted.
There hasn't been an arrest in this situation yet. The sheriff's office said on Tuesday that they were sorting through video and had "strong leads" when it came to identifying a suspect.
“We’re doing basic old-school investigation with technology to locate the shooter or shooters or participants. … It is an active investigation,” Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said.
WS/FCS released the following statement on Tuesday night:
We are sad to report that today after dismissal at Reynolds High School, a student was shot in the leg after an altercation near Northwest Boulevard. The student is in stable condition and recovering.
Law enforcement officials are working swiftly to solve this case and identify the suspects.
Students at Reynolds, Wiley and Brunson who were still on campus were held in lockdown briefly. Reynolds and Wiley families are reuniting with their children at the assigned reunification site.
We will provide updates as soon as possible via text or email. Please keep our student in your thoughts.