UPDATED: 1 killed, 2 hurt in apparent stabbing at Onslow County high school

JACKSONVILLE, NC (WCTI) — One child is dead, and another is in the hospital after a student stabbed them during what authorities said was a fight that broke out at Northside High School this morning.

Police Chief Mike Yaniero said it all happened fast. A report of a fight in the common area of the school came in at 7 a.m. and a school resource officer responded 20 seconds later, arresting one student who stabbed two others.

The rest of the school went into lockdown.

According to Chief Mike Yaniero from the Jacksonville Police Department, “There was a report of a physical altercation between students on campus that resulted in the stabbing of two victims.”

“We had a couple of our own staff who were right there when it happened.” said Onslow County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Barry Collins, “And one of us out there was injured.”

Chief Yaniero said that staff member was a teacher. He added that the teacher had a minor injury and was treated at the scene.

Meanwhile two students were taken to Naval Medical Hospital, where one later died.

Other students and staff immediately went into lockdown for around 2 hours, Superintendent Dr. Barry Collins said, trying to keep them from seeing the chaos just outside the classrooms.

According to Dr. Collins, “Because of the crime scene and the investigation that was taking place, it made it very difficult for us to be able to mobilize the students within the building.”

At around 9:00 a.m. the school district said they notified parents to come pick up their children.

While they say it is an isolated incident, and there is no threat to the public, Collins said they are already looking at what this means for the future of the safety of Onslow County Public Schools.

“In a situation like this, it is always good for us to look at the way the situation was handled,” Dr. Collins said, “and if there is anything we can do to make it better next time. So those are all the thoughts that are going through our head right now is how can we make sure that we’re making this as effective as we can.”

District Attorney Ernie Lee said this is a complicated situation since it involves minors.

Which is the reason why more details haven’t been released right now.

He said they’re working to comply with juvenile law in the state of North Carolina in a case that could possibly head to superior court.