Stabbing at Winston-Salem State Leads to Lockdown

The victim, a 20-year-old student at the North Carolina college, was taken to a nearby hospital and is listed in stable condition.
Published: November 13, 2017

A North Carolina university was placed on lockdown for several hours on Friday after a student was stabbed on campus.

Police were called to Winston-Salem State University on Friday at approximately 1:05 p.m. where they found a student suffering from a stab wound to his midsection, reports Journal Now.

The victim, identified as 20-year-old sophomore Terrance Semple II, was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center where he was initially listed as in stable but critical condition. His condition has since been upgraded to stable condition.

Police say Semple was having an argument with the suspect when the suspect stabbed him and fled the scene. Police discovered Semple lying in a grassy area near the center of campus.

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Junior Josiah Gilbert says he saw the victim on the ground following the attack where seven to eight people were assisting him.

“I just happened to notice a lot of people by the corner over there across from the security booth. There was just people kind of helping somebody. When I got close to them, I saw a dude with his eyes wide open shaking convulsively, but they were holding one spot.”

The campus initiated the lockdown at approximately 1:13 p.m. while police searched for the suspect.

WSSU spokesman Jay Davis says people on campus were told to stay inside and those off campus were advised to avoid the area. A tweet on the school’s Twitter page read, “RamALERT: WSSU campus is currently on lockdown. Secure inside a room until further advised. Do not come to campus until advised.”

The lockdown was lifted at about 3:30 p.m. after it was determined the suspect was no longer on the grounds, says Davis.

Investigators have identified a suspect and were seeking an arrest warrant on Friday, according to News & Record. Lieutenant Tyrone Phelps of the Winston-Salem Police Department would not say if the suspect is male or female or if they are a student at the school.

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