Official Statement from the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office: 01/24/2025
Update on Tuesday’s incident at McDowell High School
The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has made significant progress in the investigation of Tuesday’s incident at McDowell High School.
A suspect has been identified as a 16-year-old juvenile residing in Sacramento, California. Authorities in California, through effective information-sharing among agencies, were able to connect this individual to similar incidents in that state. The suspect was taken into custody yesterday by California law enforcement on charges related to those incidents.
Due to the suspect’s age, no additional details about identity can be released.
The McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, along with the SBI and California authorities, continue to investigate the matter and is actively working to obtain the necessary evidence and information to pursue charges in McDowell County.
We appreciate the ongoing cooperation and dedication of all law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation and remain committed to ensuring justice is served.
There is no further information at this time. We will continue to update you when new information is available.