Authorities review possible charges after fatal stabbing at NC high school

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A stabbing at a central North Carolina high school Tuesday left one student dead and another injured, authorities said.

They’re still reviewing possible charges as investigators work to determine what led to a stabbing at the high school in Winston-Salem.

Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said officers at North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem sought assistance shortly after 11 a.m. on December 9th.

“We responded to an altercation between two students,” Kimbrough said at a news conference, adding that “there was a loss of life.”

In an email to families and staff, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools superintendent Don Phipps said one student died and another was injured.

Kimbrough said he wouldn’t take questions at the news conference, citing the ongoing investigation. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Krista Karcher said later that a stabbing had occurred and that the injured person was treated at a hospital and released.

No information about potential charges was discussed at the news conference. Kimbrough said in a video posted later on social media that there was no threat to the community.

“There are no suspects that we’re looking for,” he said. “We have that part of the investigation under control.”

Gov. Josh Stein, in a message on the social platform X, called what happened “shocking and horrible” and said he was praying for all students and their loved ones.

Phipps, who started in his post just last week, said at the news conference that it was the “worst nightmare of any educator. We hurt when our students hurt, and this is the ultimate hurt that we can possibly feel.”

North Forsyth High School is closed Wednesday and a crisis team will be in place for staff and when students return, according to Phipps.