GIBSONVILLE, N.C. — One student is injured after three fights broke out Tuesday at Eastern Guilford High School, according to the Guilford County Sheriff's Office.
The Guilford County Sheriff's Office said one fight involved four female students. According to GCSO, the fight started on a school bus on the way to school and continued as students arrived. A school resource officer broke up the fight and GCSO said no use of force was used. A female student did complain of an injury and was taken to a local hospital.
A separate fight was between two male students and a third was between two female students. Administrators broke up those incidents, according to GCSO.
"What we need is the voices of the leaders in the community, the stakeholders that are networking with these youth in one aspect to come to us and be able to help us be able to talk," said Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers.
A representative for GCS said the students involved in the incidents will be disciplined according to the district's Code of Conduct.
GCS said there was another incident at Northern Guilford High School Tuesday. A spokesperson for the district said no one was hurt. The district did not elaborate on the specifics of the incident.
"I wonder what's going on with our youth," Rogers said. "What is really happening? What's on their mind? (...) Many of them act out of character and then, what are they dealing with?"
In a statement to News 2, GCS said mental health plays a large role in incidents of violence at schools.
"As we have stated and will continue to reiterate, the safety of our students and their access to a healthy learning environment is a top priority for Guilford County Schools," said the district in a statement. "It is important to note that our schools are a microcosm of what is happening in our communities. We know that mental health challenges have increased drastically as a result of the pandemic across the state and nation. Our schools are not immune."
The below video shows one of the fights that broke out at Eastern Guilford High School on Tuesday. The video does not have sound.
"We have to come together to rally behind and support our students, teachers, and staff," read the GCS statement. "We are better together. With parent permission, GCS has implemented additional mental health options for students in addition to counselors and social workers. We know that some of the most important work we can do is focus on relationships. Having a trusted adult for students to talk to is vitally important, and we will continue building those relationships so we can transform learning and life outcomes for all students."
