WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A juvenile was taken into custody Wednesday after deputies said a large knife was found in the student’s backpack at Mount Tabor High School following reports of threats against classmates.
According to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the school resource officer at Mount Tabor High School was notified around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, that several students had allegedly been threatened by a classmate during the previous days.
Authorities also received information indicating the student might have a knife.
The sheriff’s office said the juvenile was identified and located before being searched for weapons. Deputies found a large knife inside the student’s backpack.
Sheriff’s office personnel contacted the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. A secure custody order was issued charging the juvenile with communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property, a Class H felony, and possession of a weapon on campus, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The juvenile was transported to a juvenile detention facility and was scheduled to make a first court appearance Thursday, Aug. 27.
The sheriff’s office also said metal detectors were not used at Mount Tabor High School earlier Wednesday. According to the agency, students from three randomly selected classrooms were screened beginning at approximately 2:15 p.m.
The incident prompted Major J.A. Foster of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office to question the school system’s security procedures.
Foster called for students at all middle and high schools in Forsyth County to undergo daily metal detector screenings before entering school buildings.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
