An eleventh grader at Carolina Forest High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C. is dead after an altercation with a school resource officer. The incident took place early Friday, and has left the officer hospitalized with a reported stab wound.
Carolina Forest – no stranger to student violence – was temporarily locked down as a result of the incident.
From WMBF:
Teal Britton, spokeswoman for Horry County Schools, said Trevor Varinecz, asked to speak to the student resource officer in his office and a fight between the two ensued. Varinecz, 16, allegedly stabbed the officer, who returned with gunfire.
His identity was confirmed Friday afternoon by Horry County Coroner Robert Edge. An autopsy on Varinecz’s body is expected to be performed Friday at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Both victims were taken to the Conway Medical Center, where hospital officials confirmed Varinecz died just before 11 a.m. The school resource officer continues to receive treatment in the hospital’s emergency department, but is listed in good condition.
Amazingly, this school has nine metal detectors – which were reportedly in use prior to the incident.
Why all the security?
Three years ago, a Carolina Forest student was stabbed to death in the school’s parking lot by her estranged boyfriend.
By Silverfox October 16, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Thy shall not touch the POlice. This was bad case of POP (pissing off the POlice). I hope the dearly departed will have a wounderful funeral, and the law enforcement officer will have a speedy recovery and get back to work. He should get a commendation.
By speedy long October 17, 2009 at 1:55 am
I graduated from CFHS so I know Marcus Rhodes, the officer in question…he is a good man and I know that if he felt there were any alternative to discharging his weapon he would have found it. I can’t believe some of the things people are saying in the comment section on the Sun News website…the man was not only doing his job, he was defending himself the same way anyone else would.
By funnygirl October 17, 2009 at 7:39 am
We took God out of the schools and installed crime.
By Weighing In October 17, 2009 at 10:47 am
I don’t know the officer or student, but if the officer felt he was in grave danger he acted within reason, and unfortunately it resulted in death. However, why don’t they use stun guns in schools instead? we don’t arm guards in our prisons with guns, why do we arm school resource officers with them?
By ThinBlueLine October 17, 2009 at 6:12 pm
First off my prayers go to the family of both men listed here. I am an officer in the state of NC who carries a gun and a taser. The reason we don’t carry guns in prisons? We do. They’re used on perimeter to stop fleeing felons. Inside the jail they are prohibited because of the convicts and their history of violence. So why not take guns off our school officers? Ever heard of Columbine? Or Virginia Tech? Or a dozen of the other schools that have had active shooter scenarios? Your kid is in a school with a madman shooting innocent people and your politics have left him with a weapon that has a primary effective range of 21 feet. Not a smart idea.
By Gun Slinger October 19, 2009 at 11:31 am
Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.
By COURTNEY October 19, 2009 at 1:46 pm
If anyone has ever had dealings with hormonal teenagers with Asperger’s syndrome….watch out…..very volatile !!!! The SRO acted within the scope of his job to protect himself and others in the school.Learning disabilities should not override responsibility in the school environment and therefore allow any student to come to school with a weapon.
My heart breaks for the family of both .