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ALBEMARLE, N.C. – Images all too familiar these days: police and rescue vehicles, crime scene tape, all surrounding a school. This time, one of our schools. Student Riley Graeff tells WCCB, “It started off as a normal day.”Β
Albemarle Police say a student, who WCCB has identified as 15-year-old Jalen Russell, took a gun out of his waistband at 7:42 AM Tuesday and fired it twice at 16-year-old Bernard Miller in a courtyard area outside Albemarle High School. Russell hit Miller, police say, in the hip and lower abdomen. Student Joshua Little says, “There was students around, innocent bystanders, then were innocent bystanders around!”
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The shooter put the gun down, walked into the principal’s office, and turned himself in. Albemarle Police Chief William Halliburton says, “It’s an isolated incident, between two individuals, which unfortunately was brought to school grounds.” He continues, “No plotting, no planning, or anything like that.”Β
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The School Resource Officer was about 30 yards away when trigger was pulled. He first ran to the victim and then inside to secure the suspect. Office staff utilized the panic alarm system that was installed in every Stanly County school over the summer.
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Parents arrived shortly after to take their children to safety. By 9:06 AM, the last student was evacuated. Β Parent Tonya Graeff stood with her arm around her daughter and said, “We’re very glad to have her safe, we’re just very glad to have her safe.”Β
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In the coming days, the school will work with police to evaluate its emergency policies and procedures. Stanly County Schools Superintendent Dr. Terry Griffin says, “We will take every effort within our means to ensure the students are safe on campus in Stanly county.”Β
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The District Attorney is considering what other charges, if any, could be filed against Russell. We’ve learned attempted murder is a possibility. At last check, the shooting victim is in stable condition at CMC.Β
