The family of a North Carolina teenager who died after being stabbed during a fight at school says they plan to pursue legal counsel after local officials announced they will not file charges against the student who survived the altercation.
The incident occurred Tuesday morning at North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, N.C., after 16-year-old Cameron Graham became involved in a fight with an 18-year-old student, according to reports from local ABC 45, Fox 8, and WFMY. Those outlets reported that Graham had brought a knife to school that day.
According to ABC 45, the confrontation began in a school bathroom after the two teens allegedly argued over a THC pen. The report states that the students ended up grappling on the ground, with both of them holding the knife during the struggle—until the 18-year-old gained control of it and stabbed Graham through the sternum and into his heart.
Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill said at a Thursday press conference that the two students “were friends” and “knew each other very well.”
“I can tell you that he cried and cried when he learned his friend was dead,” O’Neill told reporters. Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough also said that when he arrived at the scene, he found the 18-year-old “crying and wailing at what he had done,” while Graham was “struggling for his life,” surrounded by school staff, administrators, and other students.
O’Neill also said the 18-year-old “tried to render aid” after the stabbing and attempted to pack the wound and apply pressure until first responders arrived, according to Fox 8.
“There’s not a shred of evidence to suggest that this was anything more than an accident,” O’Neill said, adding that no charges would be filed against the 18-year-old student.
Still, Graham’s family says the matter is far from closed.
Graham’s aunt, Charlita Summers, said in a statement to WXII that the family would be “seeking legal counsel in assist with this investigation” following the Sheriff’s decision. Summers also told WXII that Graham was a “good boy who loved sports, people, and was a beacon of light in his community.”
In the aftermath of his death, the family has launched a GoFundMe to help with expenses. In the fundraiser, they described Cameron as “a very smart, outgoing, loving, funny, and caring person,” adding that he was deeply valued by “family, friends, teachers, and fellow students.”
