ROCKINGHAM — More than 20 students have been suspended following a series of fights this week at Richmond Senior High School.
According to Kyle DeWitt, public information officer for Richmond County Schools, there have been three fights at the high school from Monday, Nov. 27-28.
Twenty-two students have been involved in those fights, DeWitt said, adding that no injuries have been reported. She also said a pair of brass knuckles were found outside the building.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office sent deputies on standby for extra security, according to Chief Deputy Jay Childers.
DeWitt continued saying that the district’s Student Code of Conduct “was strictly followed in responding to the students involved…” leading to 22 students being suspended “based on the investigation of the incidents.” Long-term suspensions are possible and further investigation has been turned over to law enforcement, she added.
“Richmond Senior High School and Richmond County Schools are taking the recent incidents very seriously and have taken swift action,” DeWitt said. “The school has altered its dismissal procedures to better supervise students at the end of the day and prevent opportunities for further conflicts.”
In addition to the fights, DeWitt confirmed that the school received “an anonymous tip that said there is ‘a rumor that a bomb would be planted.’” However, she said the tip was investigated by law enforcement and “determined to not be a credible threat.”
Richmond Senior isn’t the only school in the state dealing with recent violence.
On Monday, a 15-year-old student at Southeast Raleigh High School died following a fatal stabbing during a fight, according to multiple media outlets. A 16-year-old was injured and a 14-year-old has been charged with murder.
On Thursday, the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office released a statement regarding a threat at Carver Middle School in Laurel Hill.
Investigators there say a student was identified and admitted to making the threat and is in juvenile custody.
