SHERIFF: SROs not aware student assaulted at school

WASHINGTON COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Washington County deputies are investigating after a 12-year-old student ended up at a trauma center and the school’s SROs didn’t know it happened.

Sheriff Johnny Barnes says his office was notified after the child ended up at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.

The sheriff says a 14-year-old student assaulted the other child around 8:00 a.m. Tuesday at Washington County High School.

Barnes says the school’s two resource officers were not aware of the assault until he told them about it.

“The situation was promptly investigated in accordance with our district policies and procedures”, said Superintendent Dr. David White in a statement.

In a follow-up email, the superintendent said SROs are not always notified. “In this case, the incident lasted less than five seconds,” said White. “The injured student was immediately escorted to the nurse’s office. However, the situation escalated when the severity of the injury became clear after the student’s parents took them to the hospital.”

The sheriff says the assault case will likely end up in juvenile court.