North Carolina
Parent accused of barging into North Carolina high school, assaulting student in hallway
Authorities have arrested a parent accused of barging into a high school in North Carolina and attacking a student.
The incident occurred Monday morning as the parent, who was not identified, was “directed to report to the office” when they entered the Fike High in Wilson, North Carolina, Principal Ross Renfrow, said in a statement sent to families viewed by USA TODAY.
However, the parent “did not report to the office and instead assaulted a student in the hallway based on a situation that happened outside of school.” The reason behind the attack was not immediately known.
Renfrow said he and other staff members intervened immediately, “diffused the situation, and escorted the parent out of the building.”
Video footage of the incident shared by local news outlet WRAL News shows the parent grabbing a boy by the shirt and dragging him before forcefully pushing him toward a staircase. As the suspect is pulled away, the boy, who is reported to be 17 years old, appears to experience a seizure before slowly getting up and walking away.
Parent banned from campus
Renfrow said the school is “working in collaboration with the sheriff’s office and charges have been filed,” adding the parent will no longer be allowed on campus.
While the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for an update on the incident, local news outlets WNCN and The Wilson Times reported the parent, identified as Quinton Earl Lofton, was charged with felony assault by strangulation and disorderly conduct for entering the school Monday morning and assaulting a “student over an isolated incident that had occurred outside of school.” The accused was also placed in the Wilson County Detention Center under a $7,500 secured bond, as per The Wilson Times, but bonded out within a couple of hours.
Information regarding Lofton’s attorney was not immediately available.
“The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Please use this situation as a reminder that we will not tolerate violence or threats against our students or staff,” Renfrow said.
The student’s sister, meanwhile, told WRAL her brother was “pretty traumatized” by the incident.
“He’s very shaken up by the whole event that took place this morning,“ she said. “He’s pushing through. He’s trying to, you know, remain positive through the whole situation.”
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A longtime Wake County Democratic state representative announced his resignation from the North Carolina General Assembly on Sunday.
Rep. Joe John, who represented northwestern Wake County, shared news of his resignation in a letter posted to his Facebook page, after he said he received a terminal diagnosis for throat cancer from his doctors. John, 85, first stated publicly that he was diagnosed with throat cancer in early December.
“I hope my legacy will be one of dedication to the common good — working to build bridges, advocate for the voiceless, and fight for justice,” he said.
John was first elected as a state representative in 2016 and served four consecutive terms. His upcoming term would have been his fifth. Before serving in the legislature, John spent a large portion of his life in the judicial field — as a state appeals judge, superior court judge and district judge. He also served as the State of North Carolina Crime Laboratory’s director.
The Wake County Democratic Party will be in charge of choosing someone to fill John’s vacant seat.
John said in his letter that he plans to focus on his health and spend time with his family after resigning.
“If my time in office has made even a small difference in your lives, then I will leave this world knowing I’ve done my part,” John said.
Republican President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House on Monday, vowing swift action on a host of issues that could impact nearly every American — and could have a particularly profound effect on North Carolina’s economy.
Reporter : Kelsey Coffey
Photographer : Mark Olexik
Web Editor : Jessica Patrick
Posted
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) officials announced on Sunday that they extended transitional sheltering assistance to families in western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.
According to FEMA, residents and families receiving hotel lodging while looking for alternative housing will be allowed to stay in hotels until May 25, with hotel check-out on May 26.
“This is a positive development,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein said on X. “I pledge to work with the new administration to support displaced North Carolinians and help folks recover.”
The extension comes after reports of people being kicked out of hotels FEMA provided.
“If any survivors still need housing assistance or feel their TSA eligibility ended in error, they should immediately call the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362,” FEMA said on Monday.
If you were impacted by this situation and would like to share your experience with WRAL, go to wral.com/reportit.
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