16-year-old charged with murder in shooting death of classmate at North Carolina high school

MATTHEWS, N.C. — A 16-year-old North Carolina high school student is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a classmate Monday morning at Butler High School in Matthews, WSOC-TV reported.

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Update 9:00 p.m. EDT Oct. 29: Students, parents and faculty from Butler High School in Matthews, North Carolina, gathered for a vigil at the school Monday night to remember a teenager gunned down Monday morning.

Sophomore Bobby McKeithen, 16, was allegedly shot by another 16-year-old, Jatwan Craig Cuffie, in a school hallway after a disagreement, WSOC-TV reported.

McKeithen later died at an area hospital.

Update 4:25 pm EDT Oct. 29:  North Carolina authorities have identified the victim in the Butler High School shooting Monday morning.

Bobby McKeithen, 16, was allegedly shot and killed by classmate Jatwan Craig Cuffie after some sort of disagreement, investigators said earlier Monday, according to WSOC.

Update 3:50 p.m. EDT Oct. 29: Authorities identified the 16-year-old arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing a classmate at Butler High School on Monday morning as Jatwan Craig Cuffie.

Original report: Police confirmed a lockdown was lifted at the high school Monday morning after a student was injured in a shooting.

The victim was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center Main in critical condition. Officials said he later died of his injuries.

Authorities said the suspect, another student, was taken into custody after the incident.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox told WSOC-TV that one student was upset with another, which led to the shooting in a main hallway at the school just after 7 a.m.

"We're incredibly saddened that we had a loss of life on one of our campuses today. What makes it doubly difficult is that it was one of our students who was the shooter," Wilcox said. "First of all, our hearts go out to the larger community and to all of the young people who witnessed this tragedy today."

Police said the incident was captured on surveillance video.

A teenager told WSOC-TV that he saw a student open fire on a classmate Monday as the classmate was walking away.

"I just processed everything, what's going on," Jorge Sanchez told WSOC-TV. "I saw the gun and I had to run."

Officials said a school resource officer was nearby during the incident and took the suspected shooter into custody in a classroom. Authorities said the weapon used in the shooting was also in the possession of law enforcement officials.

Police said the incident appeared isolated and that the school has been secured by officers. No other people are believed to have been involved in the shooting.

WSOCTV crews saw people embracing each other outside of the school as police roped off the campus. Parents desperate for answers started marching from the church to campus just before 9 a.m.

The families were met by officers who prevented them from getting too close to the building. School district officials said the Butler High School lockdown was lifted around 9:15 a.m. and parents were able to pick up their children.

School district officials said classes will proceed on campus as scheduled Monday.

Authorities continue to investigate.

– Visit WSOCTV.com for the latest on this developing story.

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