'We will get through this': Leaders react to fatal shooting of student at Mount Tabor High School
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Community leaders shared words of hope and support 24 hours after a school shooting at Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem.
Gov. Roy Cooper joined law enforcement and school officials Thursday morning to talk about the second school shooting in North Carolina in three days.
"Our hearts go out to the parents and the family to this young man who was shot and killed yesterday at Mount Tabor High School," Cooper said.
The governor and the other leaders praised the school faculty and law enforcement responding to the dangerous and traumatic events of Wednesday.
Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr. said despite the difficulties of Wednesday, God would deliver the community through the difficult times.
"We will get through this. We won't let fear stop us from moving forward together," Kimbrough said.
Wednesday's shooting left William Chavis Raynard Miller Jr., a student at Mount Tabor High School, dead.
Superintendent Tricia McManus said Miller was a great kid who was deeply loved by his parents and his teachers.
Kimbrough said he had spoken to Miller's mother who had the following message to share with the world:
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill also spoke at the Thursday press conference. He declined to release any further details about the investigation, saying he did not want to jeopardize the case.
He did spend time praising the response at the school.
"We saw a lot of heroes yesterday with our law enforcement community. They arrive out on scene and they know that there's a shooter running around and they don't stop. They run right into the unknown," O'Neill said.
He went on to say he has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to violence in schools, but again refused to comment specifically about charges for the arrested suspect.
RAW: Leaders react to fatal school shooting at Mount Tabor
Mount Tabor was the second school shooting in North Carolina this week. On Monday, a student was shot at New Hanover High School in Wilmington. A 15-year-old was charged in that incident.
Also, on Thursday, two guns were found at Enloe High School. Administrators told parents that an employee was alerted about a student having a weapon at school. School staff escorted the student to the main office and worked with our School Resource Officer from the Raleigh Police Department and WCPSS Security staff to investigate.
The student was found to be in possession of two guns.
During an investigation, officials learned that two students may have handled or seen the firearms.
"Bringing a weapon to school is a very serious offense," the notification to parents said. "The Raleigh Police Department detained the two students and is investigating to determine any criminal charges. In addition, any student who brings a firearm on campus faces a 365 day suspension, per state law."
