One student was killed in a shooting at Mount Tabor High School in Forsyth County, officials said.
Hours later, the suspect from the shooting was arrested without incident, the sheriff’s office said
The suspect was believed to also be a student but officials did not immediately release any other details.
Sheriff’s office spokeswoman Christina Howell said all other students were safe.
Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson confirmed at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that a student had been shot and taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr., who joined deputies and officers at the school on the initial call, identified the victim as William Chavis Raynard Miller Jr. but did not know his age.
Thompson fought back tears as she delivered the news that Miller had died despite life-saving efforts at the school and at the hospital. She also said that as a result of the shooting trauma, at least one student suffered a seizure and needed medical attention.
Kimbrough, too, was emotional.
“I haven’t cried in a while, but I’ve been crying since I left the hospital,” Kimbrough said.
Kimbrough said he spoke to Miller’s mother at the hospital and promised her he would get to the bottom of the investigation.
Kimbrough asked for the public’s prayers for the community.
Thompson added: “We have a mother and family who will not be able to hug their child tonight.
Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough and other officials give update on Winston-Salem school shooting that left one student dead
The Winston-Salem school was on lockdown and students were moved after the incident.
Police blocked roads to the school, which has an enrollment of more than 1,500 students, and numerous emergency vehicles were on the scene. Parents frantic for information parked their cars on the sidewalks several blocks from the school as police directed traffic away from campus. Students and parents could be seen walking toward a nearby shopping center.
Christopher Johnson said his son told him that he heard the gunshots while in the school gym and students were told to hide because there was an active shooter on campus.
“You see stuff like this in the media,” said Johnson, whose son was still at the school awaiting transportation to a pickup point. “It’s scary to know that it actually reached out and touched you this time. My son’s not a victim, but he’s part of this and he’ll probably remember this forever.”
The Mayor of Winston Salem, Allen Joines said earlier in the day that the situation was an “evolving event.”
“This is still an evolving event therefore it is not appropriate to offer detailed comments at this time,” Joines said. “That being said, we are deeply saddened by the event at Mount Tabor Senior High School. Our thoughts and prayers are with the student who was injured”
