Student, 15, charged in Athens Drive High fight

Raleigh, N.C. — Raleigh police on Tuesday charged a 15-year-old Athens Drive High School student with assault in connection with a Sept. 11 fight that injured the school's assistant principal.

The boy's name was not released, but police said he faces a juvenile charge.

Police also arrested 18-year-old Jameka NyCole Hardy, of Garner, for "engaging in an affray." Two other 15-year-old males were issued juvenile petitions in connection with the fight.

Steven Miller, an assistant principal at Athens Drive High School, was taken to a local hospital following the fight and treated for lacerations to his back, head and arms. According to police, the student pushed Miller into a plate-glass window in the school's cafeteria.

Students said there were numerous fights within about 15 minutes and that Miller was trying to break up one of them.

Sophomore McKenzie McCarthy said a student grabbed Miller's shoulders and shoved him into the glass.

"To see him just manhandled like that, it was really scary," she said. "It's like something that happened right in front of you, and your principal is harmed, and you're like, 'What are you going to do?'"

66 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 66 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments

Praying for the injured principal. Blessed to hear someone is going to have to stand before a judge for him getting injured.

Back in my day, all of these kids would have been heartily paddled, and I still believe that's better than legal charges and serving time with criminals whose crimes are far worse than school fighting to learn from.

Iak Hsehpen
September 27, 2012 3:39 p.m.

Dr Miller knows martial arts. Good thing he kept his cool nad did not retaliate! Not sure I would...

NCSU84
September 24, 2012 2:35 p.m.

jlh4jdj, I do agree with what you just said, however as I read your prior remark,it sounded to me like all IEP students were being lumped together. If you do know about IEPs, then you'll understand that these students face enought of a difficult time without being lumped in with behavior problem kids. So, we're on the same page, just if you'd clarify a bit more what IEPs your speaking of Moms like me would appreciate it. There certainly is a difference in expectations for the students based on the type of IEP and people who aren't familar with them should be educated about that. Thanks.

2xMom
September 19, 2012 12:54 p.m.

I would hesitate to "label" him as a true student... this young man and others like him need to be REMOVED from our schools. Such individuals need to be in some sort of an "alternate" schooling program in which their "issues" are dealt with directly at the same time they receive at least some elements of an "education". To expose our "true students", teachers, administrators, and school staff to such violent individuals is unconscionable! Some decades ago when I was in high school... if a fight "broke out" - it stopped immediately when an "adult authority" person showed up, be it teacher, administrator, or staff. "Kids" who shove "adult authority" people through glass doors - who are violent to that degree - must be dealt with in a truly significant fashion - "political correctness" aside! My "kids" are now adults, but I would NOT want them in a school, much less a classroom, with such individuals. This is far more than a "minor classroom disruption" - it is an issue of SAFETY for all!

Objective Scientist
September 19, 2012 12:12 p.m.

2xMom--Actually I know way more about them than you think I do and support IEP uses when students that need them have them. I was not attacking IEP's I was saying that it is another loop hole used by the few bad apple students and parents to get away with everything! These people hurt students who really need them. You should agree with me on this.