WALTERBORO, S.C.—School board members and parents are looking for answers after a fifth grader died from injuries suffered in a fight at a South Carolina elementary school.
Authorities released few details about the fight that happened on March 25. They say it involved two students and Raniya Wright was knocked unconscious at Forest Hills Elementary School in Walterboro. She died in the hospital two days later.
由 Pathaline Byrd 发布于 2019年3月28日周四
The Colleton County School District said the other student is also a fifth grader and has been suspended. The student’s name, sex, and age have not been released. No charges have been filed.
“Raniya was a wonderful student. She loved to write, spend time with her friends, play basketball and loved being a big sister. She was actively involved in her church as a junior usher,” the district said in a statement. “She will be missed greatly by her family, friends, and the entire school community.”
#BREAKING: A Walterboro 5th-grader severely injured in classroom fight Monday died Wednesday morning, family confirms. RaNiya Wright had been unresponsive and in critical condition at MUSC, family says.#chsnews pic.twitter.com/zatOAx98PI
— ABC News 4 (@ABCNews4) March 27, 2019
Colleton County School Board member William Bowman told WLTX-TV in Columbia he wants more answers and said the school board would be briefed privately about the fight Thursday afternoon.
“What I would like for all parents to understand is our schools are safe,” Bowman said. “There isn’t a teacher or staff member or administrator in our district that doesn’t have the safety of our students in highest regard.”
School officials who called 911 initially said the girl collapsed Monday after the fight and was unconscious but breathing in the nurse’s office, according to a Colleton County Sheriff’s Office incident report.
由 Pathaline Byrd 发布于 2019年3月28日周四
The student was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston after the fight, the district said in an earlier statement.
“Our entire school district is saddened by this event,” the district said. “It is very difficult to experience the death of a young person.”
Walterboro is a town of about 5,100 residents about an hour’s drive west of Charleston.
I cannot even fathom.
Of all the sad stories we cover, the most difficult are those involving kids. Raniya Wright was just 10.
We’re still awaiting details of exactly what happened, but regardless, this is a tragedy. https://t.co/945nLl2btG
— Ashley Daley (@AshleyDaley) March 27, 2019
The report and statements from deputies and school officials have not detailed how the girl was injured or what the fight was about. The attack is listed on the report as a simple assault and said no weapons were used.
Raniya died Wednesday at the Charleston hospital. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
Brittany Waltz has a fifth grader at the same elementary school and also said the school system needs to release more information.
“They are just a great family. And they don’t deserve this,” Waltz told WCBD-TV in Charleston. “Our goal is we need to prevent it from happening again.”
The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office in a statement on Thursday said no weapons were involved in the incident.
The school principal, Matt Brantley said in a statement on the school website that additional district staff will be on the school campus to provide counseling and support services.
“Should your child experience any anxiety, sadness or concern regarding this situation involving their schoolmate, please inform your child’s teacher, our school counselor or our school psychologist. We are here to support our students,” Brantley said.
Wire Service Content (CNN) contributed to this report.
