Student stabbed in bathroom at St. James High School. Lockdown lifted
A Grand Strand student was stabbed in a bathroom Wednesday afternoon.
St. James High School lifted its lockdown status after the injured student was taken to a hospital and another student was taken into custody, according to Horry County Schools (HCS) Director of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement Lisa Bourcier.
“The student is alert and appears to be ok,” Bourcier said in an email. “The suspect, which is a student, has been apprehended by law enforcement.”
Moving to a HOLD emergency protocol, St. James High School started a controlled release of students by hallway at 3:15 p.m., the usual dismissal time. All after-school extracurricular activities and evening events were cancelled.
The school will implement extra law enforcement and crisis counselors on campus Thursday.
“We understand that this event may raise anxieties for both students and families,” said Bourcier. “Our priority is to ensure that everyone feels supported as we move forward together.”
Parents try to reach their kids
During the lockdown, administration asked parents not to arrive on campus, but cars with concerned family members stopped traffic on Salem Road Wednesday afternoon.
“It is nerve-wracking. I’m nervous,” said Marguerite Folz, whose freshman daughter attends St. James.
Folz had been trying to reach her daughter by text since being notified of the lockdown shortly after 2 p.m. but hadn’t received a response by 2:45. She questioned how a teenager was able to bring a knife into St. James High School despite the metal detectors and police officers.
Another woman waiting for school pickup was informed by her grandson over text that he remained in his classroom during the lockdown.
Cellphone ban in Horry County
In accordance with a state law prohibiting students from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day, HCS adopted a cell phone ban in January 2025.
However, the HCS website notes that, “If the school experiences an emergency situation, the administration may determine that students should be allowed access to their personal electronic devices to communicate with parents/guardians.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published March 4, 2026 at 2:40 PM.
