North Forsyth High Tragedy: Student Dies in School Fight as City 'Shaken to Core'

A normal school morning at North Forsyth High ended in tragedy, leaving one student dead and an entire community reeling.

What began as an altercation between two students on campus has quickly become, in the words of local leaders, 'another sad day' for Forsyth County. After the incident, officials are urging residents to focus on compassion, support and restraint rather than speculation.

North Forsyth High: Fight On Campus Turns Deadly

Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr said the incident unfolded late on Tuesday morning after the school resource officer at North Forsyth High sent out an urgent call for 'all hands on deck. '

By the time deputies arrived, they learned there had been a fight between two students, and that 'during this... altercation, there was a loss of life, and what I will tell you is that the families of the people involved have been notified'.

Kimbrough stressed that 'there is no danger to the community', even as grief and anxiety spread well beyond the school grounds.

He described the day as 'another sad day' and urged people to pray for the families, underlining that the impact of what happened would be felt far beyond those directly involved.

North Forsyth High: 'Dark Day' That Shook A City

Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn Jr called it 'a dark day for our city', saying the violence at North Forsyth High 'has shaken us to our very core'. His department is assisting with the investigation, with officers helping to piece together exactly what happened in the moments before and during the fight.

Penn appealed directly to residents not to share videos or images of the incident online. He warned that this is 'not the time to clout chase' and that doing so is deeply insensitive to students and families already in pain.

He stated that the school, its staff and its students will need strong community support in the days ahead, calling on residents to unite and 'put an end to senseless violence'.

Local and national reporting has echoed those calls for calm and empathy as the community absorbs the scale of the loss.​

North Forsyth High: School Closure And Support For Students

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Dr Don Phipps said his thoughts and prayers are with the students, staff and families affected by the fatal altercation.

He praised law enforcement and medical first responders for their rapid response and commended school staff for acting swiftly during the emergency.

Phipps described the situation starkly, saying, 'Today is the worst nightmare of any educator' and adding that the district is hurting 'when our students hurt'.

He confirmed that North Forsyth High would be closed to students on Wednesday, with crisis teams available for faculty and staff, and support services to be extended to students once they return.

Parents and guardians are being encouraged to use the school's website if immediate needs arise, and additional resources and guidance will be made available to help families talk to children about what has happened.

North Forsyth High: Official Statements And Ongoing Investigation

In a message to the wider district community, Phipps said violence has no place in schools and asked residents to surround students and staff with 'kindness and care' at this moment. He outlined practical steps for support, including the presence of counsellors and support staff at designated locations, and reminded families that no one has to process this tragedy alone.

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office also released a formal statement confirming there is no immediate threat to the wider community and that families of North Forsyth High students have been contacted through law enforcement and the school district.

The statement also emphasised that the investigation is in its early stages, thus only limited information can be shared for now.

Because of that, Kimbrough said he would not answer detailed questions about what led to the altercation. 'I know there are a lot of questions that you probably have, but it's an ongoing investigation,' he said

Kimbrough added that information will be shared once there is closure.