Classes across Washington County were suddenly called off Thursday after a fight at Washington County High School the day before triggered a brief lockdown and heightened concerns tied to a separate fatal shooting involving a student.
According to a statement on the district's live feed, the Washington County School District announced, "Due to the incident that occurred at Washington County High School yesterday and its resulting impact, all Washington County Schools will be closed today, March 12," adding that staff could treat the day as an optional workday. The district also noted that the BCCC bus for Washington County Early College High School would still run on its normal schedule.
What Happened
As reported by WNCT, Washington County High School and Washington County Elementary were placed on a brief "soft lockdown" Wednesday as school resource officers and staff responded to a disturbance on campus. District officials believe the fight may be tied to events off school grounds, and law enforcement is now looking into both the on-campus incident and related off-campus activity.
WNCT also reports that the district said a student died in a separate shooting the night before the lockdown.
Investigation Ongoing
In its public statement, the Washington County School District said law enforcement is investigating the fight and "related matters including a separate shooting incident." Officials have not announced any arrests or charges.
District leaders said administrators, school resource officers and staff moved quickly to secure the campus and were able to bring the situation under control within a short period of time.
School Events And Community Response
Washington County High School canceled a family military ball that had been scheduled for the following day, according to the school's announcement reported by WNCT. The decision added to a tense and emotional week for families already grappling with news of the shooting and the abrupt districtwide closure.
Parents and community members are waiting for more detailed answers as investigators sort through what happened. Officials have said updates will be posted on the district website and social media channels as new information becomes available.
Authorities have called for patience while they follow up on leads, and the district has pledged to share additional details when it is able to do so. This article will be updated as officials release further information.
