Crime
Student Killed, Another Injured in Stabbing at North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, N.C. — A stabbing at North Forsyth High School late Tuesday morning left one student dead and another injured, prompting a large-scale law enforcement response and a temporary lockdown of the campus.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that emergency medical services responded immediately and announced a 2 p.m. press briefing as the investigation unfolded.
According to officials, the incident occurred shortly after 11 a.m., when the School Resource Officer issued an urgent call stating he needed “all hands on deck.”
Deputies from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Winston-Salem Police Department arrived within minutes.
During an afternoon press conference, Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. confirmed that one student had died as a result of injuries sustained in the altercation.
The second student was injured, though additional details about their condition have not yet been released.
Sheriff Kimbrough described the situation as “heartbreaking” and called on the community to come together in support of the school and the families impacted.
Officials reiterated that the case remains an active investigation and that further information about the individuals involved is being withheld pending notification of families and ongoing inquiries.
Authorities confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the school or surrounding community, and the campus lockdown has been lifted.
Investigators are reviewing a video circulating on social media that appears to show moments leading up to the fatal confrontation. In the footage:
- A student is seen walking down a hallway toward a restroom area.
- Multiple students gather as a conflict erupts between two individuals inside a school restroom.
- After the fight, one student exits the restroom and collapses in the hallway.
- A student is briefly seen holding a knife in the aftermath.
Authorities have urged the public to stop sharing or reacting to the graphic video out of respect for the victim, students, and their families.
Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. delivered an emotional plea during his remarks:
“I need your prayers, the principal needs your prayer, the community needs your prayer — we need prayer right now.”
Winston-Salem Police Chief William H. Penn Jr. condemned the spread of the video online, stating:
“Today is a dark day for our city… Events like this have shaken us to our very core.
Whoever’s sharing this video, liking this video, commenting on this video — please think about the insensitive nature of what you’re doing.”
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein released a public statement, calling the stabbing “shocking and horrible”:
“North Carolinians need to be safe wherever they are — especially in school. I have spoken with Sheriff Kimbrough to offer my support. We must never stop working toward a safer North Carolina.”
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools activated emergency protocols and directed parents to the Joel Coliseum at 2825 University Parkway for reunification. Parents were asked to bring identification for student release.
Superintendent Dr. Don Phipps issued a formal letter to the WS/FCS community:
- He confirmed one student had died and another was injured.
- He emphasized that “violence has no place at our schools.”
- He urged the community to surround students and staff “with kindness and care.”
School Closure and Staff Instructions
- North Forsyth High School will be closed Wednesday, December 10, for students.
- Staff members are directed to report to the Education Building, 4801 Bethania Station Road, and may take leave if needed.
- Counselors and crisis response teams will be on-site to provide emotional and psychological support.
Students seeking assistance may visit the Cable 2 offices at the Education Building starting at 8 a.m., accompanied by a parent or guardian. Additional resources will be available on the school’s website.
The tragic loss has deeply affected students, staff, and the broader Winston-Salem community.
Crisis counselors, grief specialists, and school support personnel will remain available as the investigation continues and students process the events.
Officials ask the public to keep the families and the North Forsyth community in their thoughts during this period of profound grief.
Further updates will be released as new information becomes available.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.