Another day of threats at Hillside High: Sheriff calls for metal detectors, Durham remembers a young man with potential
Hillside High School in Durham was on "secure status," meaning doors to the outside are locked but classes continue, for about an hour Thursday afternoon while Durham police officers and sheriff's deputies searched the woods near the school after getting an anonymous tip about weapons there.
'"Secure status" began just before 1 p.m. and was lifted around 2 p.m. without incident, a Durham Public Schools spokesman told WRAL News.
Davion White, a junior, said the mood was heavy in the school building. "It's very somber. Everyone is in low spirits."
The tip came about 24 hours after a shooting near the school left one student dead and another injured. Police said a 17-year-old was killed and a 15-year-old shot Wednesday afternoon on the American Tobacco Trail at Riddle Road near Fayetteville Street.
Authorities have not shared any information about the search for the person or people who fired the shots, and they have not made any arrests. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 919-560-4440 extension 29332 or CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200.
A Durham City Council meeting on Thursday was stalled while Mayor Elaine O'Neal was briefed on the situation. Once the meeting began, councilors heard from two members of the public who knew the boy who died.
"He was a great kid," said Tiffany Swoope, CEO of Graced Inc., a nonprofit with a stated goal of "breaking cycles of trauma in the youth of our community."
"He had a very cool demeanor, very sweet, very kind," Swoope said. "We recently set goals. He's been working towards his goals and thinking about his future.
"He told me he wants to own a trucking company, but he was going to get there by becoming a barber and saving his money to get to the next level."
Council member Leonardo Williams, who is a former teacher, said he's ready to return to the schools to talk to students directly.
"I'm the father of a young, Black male," he said. "In my mind, I am looking at these other young men in the city as my sons as well."
Durham sheriff calls for metal detectors in all schools
Durham Sheriff Clarence Birkhead told WRAL News on Thursday that he'd like to see metal detectors in every school in the county.
"DPS (Durham Public Schools) has to do their part and harden the infrastructure," he said. "We've had the conversation about metal detectors. I think they would be value-added if we used metal detectors."
"Yesterday is a classic example," Birkhead said. "Even though it was off-campus, I'm not so sure that weapon wasn't on campus throughout the day. And that's concerning."
Durham schools Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga said, "I am heartsick about the loss of one of our students. His family and loved ones are in our thoughts and prayers – but we need more than thoughts and prayers. Our students are clamoring for an end to gun violence and our community must come together to deliver it."
Despite the recent series of worries, parent Lasandra McDuffie says she does feel like her son is safe at Hillside and has praise for the school.
"Last night we spent a lot of time talking about families and what they are going through. Even though we didn't know the kid, we definitely prayed for the family," she said.
Birkhead said, "There are a collage of things we can do to make our schools safe. ... I think we have to try everything."
