A 15-year-old North Carolina high school freshman was stabbed to death during a fight Monday morning inside the school, and a 14-year-old classmate has been charged with his murder.
Another boy, 16, was wounding in the fight and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries,WRAL reported.
Friends and family identified the dead boy as Delvin Ferrell and said he was a good kid who loved sports and video games.
“We are a grieving family and trying to process this,” Ferrell’s family said in a statement. “It is a tragedy all around. We are a forgiving family and don’t hold any ill will.”
Video from the fight showed that it started in a hallway outside Southeast Raleigh High School’s gymnasium and quickly burst through the gym doors. Outside the gym, a student is seen punching the teen who would eventually be charged in the stabbing. That boy’s mother told WRAL that her son had been bullied and that she had warned the school of potential trouble.
“I informed them that morning,” Cherelle McLaughlin said. “I told them something may happen, boys may threaten to jump him. They didn’t get to him fast enough.”
In portions of the videos, several students appear to attack McLaughlin’s son. Police have not commented on what started the fight or how many students were ultimately involved. District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said she intends to have the suspect’s case transferred to Superior Court to try him as an adult.
“We are at the beginning of this process,” Freeman said. “I would anticipate in the near future this case will be transferred.”
Southeast Raleigh High School was closed on Tuesday after the tragedy and will be closed again on Wednesday. Meanwhile, several parents said they were concerned about the incident and feared the school itself had some responsibility to prevent it. One parent, who asked not to be identified, asked where the school’s security was in the incident.
“Even from the video alone, it seemed like it took a long time for the administrator, teacher, adult to get there,” she said. “I don’t feel safe sending my kid to school. No parents should have to send their kid to school and wonder if they are going to come back alive.”
McLaughlin said she believes the school failed both her son and the two victims.
“I feel terrible. The whole situation is terrible. I feel bad for the other family, but in return, I feel bad for my son because he was fighting for his life,” said McLaughlin. “I just don’t think it should have happened like that.”
School officials have not commented on the incident beyond a press conference with Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson. Wake County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor pledged to review protocols and be transparent about their investigation.
“In the aftermath of today’s tragedy we will review all of our safety processes and protocols to determine what happened, what changes need to be made,” he said. “Following that review I will work with our board to pursue any additional improvement options that may prevent such actions of violence in the future.”
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: WRAL screenshot]
