N.C. school shooting fatal to boy, 16

MATTHEWS, N.C. — A North Carolina high school student shot and killed a fellow student during a fight in a crowded school hallway Monday, officials said.

The student accused of firing the fatal shot was arrested quickly as investigators secured the campus at Butler High School in Matthews, about 12 miles southeast of Charlotte, said Matthews Police Department Capt. Stason Tyrrell.

Students remained inside with the school on lockdown for about two hours after the shooting as dozens of parents rushed to the school to make sure their children were safe.

Bobby McKeithen, 16, was shot Monday just before classes began. The 10th-grader died at a hospital, Tyrrell said.

He said the suspect — ninth-grader Jatwan Craig Cuffie, 16 — was quickly taken into custody by a school resource officer as others rushed to the scene as backup. Investigators have the weapon used, but have not said what it is.

The suspect is charged as an adult with first-degree murder and is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said the shooting appears to have stemmed from a case of bullying “that escalated out of control.” Neither Wilcox nor Tyrrell said which student was being bullied.

“We were able to review the surveillance video of the shooting, which was a fight between the two students,” Tyrrell said, describing it as an “isolated incident.”

Wilcox said classes at the high school have been canceled for today. Wilcox said that many students witnessed the shooting, and counselors and psychologists were available.

“We’re incredibly saddened by the fact that we had a loss of life on one of our campuses today. What makes it doubly difficult is that it was one of our students who was the shooter,” Wilcox said. While police have not confirmed what kind of gun was used, Wilcox said: “I don’t know how a young person gets a handgun in the state of North Carolina.” He said the system was reviewing its security procedures.

High school student Jorge Sanchez told WSOC-TV in Charlotte that the victim, a friend of his, was shot in the back as he walked away.

“I saw the gun and I had to run,” Sanchez said, adding that the gunshot sent students scurrying through the halls.

“This is really sad to see someone go that … has been your friend, for I don’t know how many years,” Sanchez said.

By late morning, school officials said that the lockdown was lifted and families could pick up students at the main entrance. Television footage showed students streaming out, with many crying and hugging parents.

Classes proceeded for students who remained on campus. The diverse student body of about 2,000 at the school in North Carolina’s most populous county is about one-third white, one-third black and one-quarter Hispanic.