One student was killed during a shooting at Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wednesday, Winston-Salem Police confirmed. The shooting drew a large police presence to the school and prompted lockdowns across the district, which have since been lifted.
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office identified the deceased student as William Chavis Raynard Miller Jr.
"It is a sad day for Forsyth County," Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough told reporters.
Law enforcement have not identified or detained a suspect, but they believe that the person behind the shooting was a student at Mount Tabor, Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson said. Despite the suspect still being at large, Thompson said that there is currently no known threat to Mount Tabor.
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Twitter page reported that there was a "disturbance" at a parent gathering site later in the day, but no additional incidents.
The investigation for the incident is still ongoing, Kimbrough said.
The live updates for this event have ended.
Police Moved Pickup Location to Avoid Congestion, Forsyth Sheriff Says
The parent pickup location was changed Wednesday afternoon to undisclosed locations to accommodate the parents and avoid congestion in the area, Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough said.
The sheriff's office said on Twitter that there had been a "disturbance" at the pickup site, prompting speculation of another attack. However, the office asserted that there wasn't a second incident at the location.
All Other Lockdowns Placed On Schools By Mount Tabor Were Lifted
All lockdowns placed on schools near Mount Tabor High School Wednesday have since been lifted, Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson said.
No incidents occurred at those schools, but they were locked down "out of an abundance of caution" as authorities responded to the situation at Mount Tabor.
No Suspect Identified or Apprehended After Mount Tabor Shooting
Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson said that law enforcement have not identified or apprehended a suspect yet after Wednesday's shooting at Mount Tabor High School that killed one student.
They believe the suspect was a fellow student at the school.
Despite not apprehending the suspect, law enforcement don't believe there is an existing threat to the school, Thompson said.
Student Shot at Mount Tabor High School Succumbed to Injuries
The one student who was confirmed to be shot at Mount Tabor High School succumbed to their injuries, Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson said during a press conference Wednesday.
The responding law enforcement gave medical aid to the student upon arriving and they were transported to a hospital, where they later died, Thompson said.
Forsyth County Sheriff to Hold Press Conference Shortly
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office will hold a press conference at 4:30 p.m. ET., according to an announcement on Twitter.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether they identified or detained the suspect allegedly behind the shooting of one student from Mount Tabor High School.
Other schools throughout the county were placed under lockdowns Wednesday "out of an abundance of caution," but no additional incidents were reported.
There will be a press conference at 4:30pm today. Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough, Jr. Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson, and WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus will be speaking.
— Forsyth Co Sheriff’s Office NC (@gofcsonc) September 1, 2021
The press conference will be livestreamed on our Facebook page @gofcsonc
Student Pickup Location Reportedly Changed to Undisclosed Location After 'Disturbance' at Previous Spot
The pickup point for Mount Tabor High School students was reportedly changed to undisclosed locations after a reported "disturbance" in the Harris Teeter parking lot, where parents originally gathered to meet their children.
No injuries were reported during the disturbance. WXII12 reporter Kenny Beck said that parents would be led alphabetically to undisclosed locations to meet their children, though this was not confirmed by law enforcement.
North Carolina Governor Briefed By Law Enforcement, Offers Department of Public Safety Support
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced that he was briefed by law enforcement about the lockdown and shooting at Mount Tabor High School and the Department of Public Safety was ready to support the response.
"We must work to ensure the safety of students and educators, quickly apprehend the shooter and keep guns off school grounds," a statement posted on Twitter said.
Gov. Cooper's Statement on Today's School Shooting in Winston-Salem: pic.twitter.com/YtVvr2zZ12
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) September 1, 2021
No confirmed shooting at Harris Teeter, police say
Winston-Salem Police confirm there was "a disturbance" around Harris Teeter but there was no confirmation of a second shooting and no injuries reported.
There was a disturbance in the area of the Harris Teeter off Peace Haven, but there is not a confirmation of a second shooting. No injuries reported.
— cityofwspolice (@cityofwspolice) September 1, 2021
Suspect with Firearm Seen in Parking Lot Where Parents Gathered, According to Witnesses
A suspect carrying a firearm was seen in the Harris Teeter parking lot, where Mount Tabor parents were instructed to wait for their children, according to witnesses on scene.
Additionally, a WXII12 reporter heard and saw people gathered in the parking lot screaming and running.
Reports of gunfire at parent meeting location
WXII12 reporter Ford Hatchett at the Harris Teeter parking lot heard people screaming and saw people running and "hit the deck" in the parking lot behind cars.
Then he heard people yell "they're shooting" and "shots fired" and he took cover, though he and his team did not hear gunfire.
This is where parents have gathered to reunite with their children.
Police rushed to the scene where officers and K-9 units are searching in bushes near the parking lot with their guns drawn.
Charlotte ATF agents were on the scene at Mount Tabor High School
The Charlotte division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (AFT) joined local and county law enforcement officials at Mount Tabor High School.
BREAKING: ATF Special Agents currently on the scene of an incident at Mount Tabor High School in Winston Salem. pic.twitter.com/yD2OpJrctB
— ATF Charlotte (@ATFCharlotte) September 1, 2021
Nearby Schools Placed Under Lockdown Out of Caution, No Additional Incidents Reported
Other schools near Mount Tabor High School were placed under lockdown Wednesday "out of an abundance of caution." No incidents were reported at those schools, the Forsyth Sheriff's Office said in a tweet.
One student was confirmed to have been injured in a shooting at Mount Tabor.
Many schools in the area are also on lockdown out of an abundance of caution. There has not been another incident but it is out of an abundance of caution.
— Forsyth Co Sheriff’s Office NC (@gofcsonc) September 1, 2021
One student rushed to hospital with gunshot wound, shooter still at large
One student has been transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound, Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough told reporters.
"It is a sad day for Forsyth County," Kimbrough said.
The incident occurred inside the school at approximately 12:05 Wednesday afternoon.
The shooter is not yet in custody. The investigation is currently ongoing and officials do not know if the suspect is a student or not. No description has been given at this time.
Students are safe and remain in the school in a "secure location," Kimbrough said. The school is still on lockdown.
Parents Instructed to Pick Up Children at Harris Teeter, Not YMCA
The Forsyth's Sheriff's Office instructed parents of students at Mount Tabor High School to pick up their children at the Harris Teeter Shopping Center on Peace Haven Road.
Parents were previously directed to meet their children at the Robinhood YMCA.
New details about the Mount Tabor incident:
— cityofwspolice (@cityofwspolice) September 1, 2021
1. Parents should now report to the Harris Teeter and NOT to the YMCA to be reunited with their children.
2. The area around Mt. Tabor High School is a NO FLY ZONE for drones.
One student injured in shooting incident, Sherriff's office confirms
One student was injured during the shooting incident at Mount Tabor High School but "all other students are safe," according to the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
The Sherrif's office is "actively seeking the suspect."
"We have no confirmed information of any other shootings or injuries," the Sherrif's office said.
6We are actively seeking the suspect. We have no confirmed information of any other shootings or injuries.
— Forsyth Co Sheriff’s Office NC (@gofcsonc) September 1, 2021
7Further information will be shared at the media staging location and on our social media.
Robinhood Road YMCA is closed as its parking lot becomes a staging area for law enforcement
The Robinhood Road YMCA is now temporarily closed while the parking lot is used as a reunification center for parents and students bussed from Mount Tabor High School.
The Robinhood Road Family YMCA is temporarily closed while the parking lot is used as a staging area for local law enforcement responding to the current situation at Mount Tabor High School.
— YMCA of NWNC (@YMCAofNWNC) September 1, 2021
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/NAJTX9QK91
Students are being bused to local YMCA
A school official said students are currently being transported on buses in stages from the school to the Robinhood Road YMCA, WXII12 reports.
"The students are safe and they are being loaded onto buses right now," Chirs Runge said. "It's going to take us a little bit. Parents' students might not be on the first bus."
"Everyone is safe," he added.
UPDATE: They are transporting all students to the Robinhood Family YMCA. Parents can report there to be reunited with their children. Reunification will take some time as students are being transported in stages.
— Forsyth Co Sheriff’s Office NC (@gofcsonc) September 1, 2021
School and security officials will be meeting at the YMCA to assist the efforts to reunite students with their parents, Runge said.
He reiterated police advisories that parents should not go to Mount Tabor School.
