Teenage student shot outside of Reynolds High School

A teenage student was shot outside of R.J. Reynolds High School Tuesday afternoon. 

At 3:49 p.m., the Winston Salem Police Department and Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a firearm-related incident outside the school off Northwest Boulevard. 

According to a social media post from the Sheriff’s Office, police arrived and found one shooting victim near the school parking lot. 

During a press briefing near the scene, Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough, Jr. confirmed the victim was a male student at Reynolds High School. He was shot in the leg. 

"I’m glad to say that this young man is still with us, and I’m happy to let the public know that we’re out here and there is no immediate threat to this community," he said. In terms of the perpetrator, he added, "We are looking for them as we speak."

Kimbrough said the victim was reunited with their mother and receiving care at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. 

He did not specify the number of suspects, only that they were still at large. Kimbrough did not confirm the suspect’s age or whether they were a Reynolds student.

Because the victim is a minor, the sheriff’s office has not identified him. 

After an abbreviated Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board meeting Tuesday evening, Superintendent Tricia McManus held a press conference about the shooting.  

“We have an obligation to keep our students safe, and when they walk on that bus or walk out of a car into our campuses every day, or even walking down the street from our campus to get from the campus to a bus or get from the campus to practice somewhere, they should feel safe," she said. "And so it is concerning to me that we are continuously having to address this issue of safety. But I will tell you, it is what we have to do.”

McManus said there will be increased law enforcement presence Wednesday at Reynolds and Wiley Middle School since the incident occurred between both campuses. 

Crisis teams will also be available for students to talk to as needed.