Nash teen charged with attempted murder in classmate's attack

Sixteen-year-old Jasmine Barnes was cut in the throat by the unidentified girl around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday while classes were in recess at Southern Nash High School.

Barnes is recovering from the attack at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville and is expected to be released soon, Capt. Pat Joyner with the Nash County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

The suspect in the case – her name isn't being released because she is being charged as a juvenile – was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Joyner, however, said that investigators filed a petition to upgrade the charge after consulting with prosecutors.

The 15-year-old also faces a new charge of possession of a weapon on school grounds.

Investigators haven't commented on a motive for the attack, but Southern Nash's principal, Connie Bobbitt, said the suspect "had an issue" with the victim.

Meanwhile, the Nash County Sheriff's Office has put in place additional security measures at the school to help restore calm and safety. Joyner, however, would not elaborate on what those measures were.