Three Columbus County students found safe after leaving elementary school campus

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Three students at Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary School were found safe Monday after they left campus, according to Columbus County Schools.

The incident happened around 11:18 a.m., when school staff discovered the students were missing from their PE class. School officials reported the situation to the principal and a review of campus security footage confirmed that the students had left school grounds.

The school’s resource officer requested assistance from local law enforcement at 11:30 a.m. to help locate the students and ensure their safety. The students were found off-campus and returned to the school by 11:55 a.m., officials said.

Each student was interviewed to understand the circumstances of the incident and was later released to their parents.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority,” the district said in a statement. “We are reviewing this incident to ensure that all protocols are followed moving forward.”

District officials also thanked law enforcement and school staff for their swift response and said they will continue working with students and families to reinforce the importance of school safety procedures.