On Monday, November 27, 2023, at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, two students were involved in a stabbing incident that resulted in the death of 15-year-old Delvin Ferrell and left another student, aged 16, hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities have charged a 14-year-old with murder on a juvenile petition.
The Raleigh Police Department responded to the initial call at 11:01 a.m. after a school resource officer reported the stabbing.
The school was immediately placed under a Code Red lockdown as law enforcement and emergency services arrived at the scene. Video footage captured by students shows the altercation started outside the gymnasium before moving inside, creating a chaotic situation.
Roughly a dozen police vehicles, EMS, and other first responders were present at the school. The school’s premises were cordoned off with yellow police tape as investigations began. Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson confirmed that responding officers secured the scene and rendered first aid to the victims before their transportation to area hospitals.
In a press conference, Wake County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor emphasized the importance of student safety and well-being. He said a full investigation is underway in collaboration with local and state law enforcement and security teams. Dr. Taylor also addressed concerns about how the knife used in the stabbing was brought onto the campus, noting that while the school does not use metal detectors, it does have protocols for searching students under reasonable suspicion of carrying a weapon.
Following the incident, classes and after-school activities were canceled to provide time and space for students, families, and staff to process the event. The school has made counseling services available, and the district’s crisis team will be supporting students in the coming days and weeks. Dr. Taylor shared his condolences with the family and loved ones of the deceased student, describing the incident as a tragedy for the entire school community.
As the investigation continues, the Raleigh Police Department has urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
