Mother and son arrested after fight at Fayetteville high school graduation

A mother and son are among three people arrested after loaded handguns were found at a Fayetteville high school's graduation ceremony.

Around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, deputies with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office responded to a disturbance in the parking lot of the Crown Complex, located at 1960 Coliseum Drive, after Alger B. Wilkins High School’s graduation ceremony.

WRAL News was told several fights broke out, and deputies seized two loaded handguns. Three people were arrested.

Elijah Kejuan Council, 20, was charged with disorderly conduct, and his mother, Latoya Evetta Council, 42, was charged with for disorderly conduct and possession of a weapon on educational property. Both were released from the Cumberland County Detention Center on bonds.

Kasiem Randall, 44, was charged with possession of a weapon on an educational property, assault on a law enforcement officer inflicting injury and resisting a public officer. He was being held on a $10,000 secure bond at the Cumberland County Detention Center.

The incident is under investigation, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office said more charges may be forthcoming. Anyone with information is asked to call 910-677-5486 or Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crime Stoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).

Superintendent Dr. Marvin Connelly told WRAL News everything was fine inside the building and the students had a graduation without interruptions. However, he said school leaders got word that there might be a fight after the ceremony.

Cumberland County Schools called the incident a "brief altercation" that occurred in the parking lot of the Crown Complex and released the following statement:

"It's important to highlight that this isolated incident in no way diminishes the success of the 17 graduation ceremonies held over the past two weeks, where over 3,500 students proudly received their diplomas, marking a significant achievement in their academic journey."

The district also thanked the sheriff's office for their quick response.

The fights came a week after the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office proposed removing resource officers and crossing guards from schools in Fayetteville city limits.

However, Cary Young, the school district's security director, said student resource officers can help alleviate similar incidents.

"It is essential, those positions that the SROs hold, and the safe schools coordinators are essential," Young said. "They build rapport with the students, and it gives them someone comfortable in a safe space to talk to."

In May, a 19-year-old was charged with bringing a semi-automatic weapon to Southeast Raleigh High School's graduation rehearsal at North Carolina State University.

Deon McCullers, 19, of Raleigh, was charged bringing a gun onto educational property – a felony – and going armed to the terror of the people.

Police said he walked around the parking lot with the rifle on display, causing "mass panic to a large crowd."