Southeast Raleigh High School (SERHS) students and parents are absorbing what was a heavy day on Monday.
SERHS is closed on Tuesday to allow time for the community to grieve an on-campus death after a fight escalated into a stabbing that left one student dead.
Another student has injuries and a third student is in custody from the ordeal, which began in a commons area and spilled into the gymnasium.
The school will be closed on Tuesday as classes and extracurricular activities are canceled. The victim’s name was not released. Superintendent of Wake County Public Schools Robert Taylor said the student who died “was a valued member of our school community.”
Cherelle McLaughlin is the mother of one of the students involved in the fight. She told WRAL News her son was acting in self-defense and claimed he was concerned for his safety at the school.
“I don’t believe he took the knife into school,” McLaughlin said. “I believe he got the knife from somebody in the school because he did not go to school with a knife. I dropped him off at school, he did not go to school with it.”
Her son is seen wearing a red hoodie at the beginning of a video capturing the fight. Raleigh police have obtained a secure custody order for a 14-year-old juvenile suspect. The teen was charged with murder on a juvenile petition.
“The whole situation is terrible,” McLaughlin said. “I feel bad for the other family but in return, I feel bad for my son because he was fighting for his life. It wasn’t a fair fight. I just don’t think it should have happened like that.”
For many parents, it was a dramatic dash to campus to check on their student.
“My kid’s never not done lockdown practice and active shooter drills,” said parent Robin Sinford. “It’s awful.”
Sinford was one of many parents to rush to campus after hearing about the fight and stabbing, which occurred only hours after drop-off.
“We had a nice talk on the way to school this morning, and all I could think driving back here was – what if that’s the last time I talk to my kid?” Sinford said.
Sinford waited with dozens of parents parked in their cars in a parking lot at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre. Buses rolled in around 2:30 p.m. to reunite them with their students.
Dwayne Funderburk’s daughter is a freshman, just starting her first year at SERHS.
“She’s stressed out,” Funderburk said. “She’s about ready to leave the school, and I can get her frustration. Because this is not normal.”
Funderburk said he’s not sure he’ll send his daughter back to Southeast. He wants the school system to step up security.
“They need to do something about metal detectors,” said Funderburk. “There’s no reason these kids got knives or guns, and I know they’ve got guns. No reason. They shouldn’t get in the front door.”
Taylor said they will review all of the safety protocols to figure out what happened and what can be done to prevent future violence.
“I pledge my resolve,” Taylor said. “School should be a safe haven for a student and staff. What happened here today is unacceptable.”
On Feb. 8, Southeast Raleigh was one of several Wake schools to go under lockdown for several hours. In March of 2020, a threat on social media led some SERHS parents to keep their children home for a day.
“As a parent, I can’t imagine getting that call. I just cannot imagine that,” Taylor said.
Monday night, a woman placed flowers near the school entrance in memory of the 15-year-old died.
Taylor wrote a message to families and school staff on Monday afternoon.
“We are left in the aftermath of today’s events with a commitment to be in service to the students, staff and community at Southeast Raleigh High School as they process the incident and grieve their loss in the coming days,” Taylor said. “Our commitment includes ensuring that students and families feel safe and supported when the time comes to re-open.”
“We also end the day with a strong resolve for action. Every parent in this district puts their trust in us when they send their child to school. All acts of violence in our schools are unacceptable.”
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said “we are heartbroken for the students, educators and families of Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School and we grieve for this tragic loss. We cannot accept violence in our schools and we must continue to work to identify threats and ensure the safety of students and teachers so they can focus on teaching and learning.”
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein offered his prayers.
“We have to keep our kids safe at school,” Stein said. “Parents, please hold your kids close tonight.”
Congressman Wiley Nickel also shared his thoughts.
“I’m devastated to hear that a Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School student has tragically passed away and another has been injured in a senseless act of violence,” Nickel said. “My thoughts are with the victims’ families and loved ones affected by this tragedy right here in our community. We can and must do more to keep our kids safe.”
Students seeking support on Tuesday can call the SERHS front office at 919-856-2800.