15-year-old charged with attempted murder in St. James High School stabbing

A 16-year-old St. James High School student was stabbed in the back by another teenager, resulting in the Wednesday afternoon lockdown at the school.

After being injured, the victim remained alert and breathing as he recounted the assault to a police officer working at the Murrells Inlet school, according to the Horry County Police case report.

On Wednesday afternoon, an Horry County Schools spokesperson said the boy had been transferred to a hospital and appeared “to be ok.”

The 15-year-old suspect in custody is being charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Officers arrested the teenager after finding him running across the football field with a knife.

St. James High School lifted its lockdown status about 3:30 p.m. 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.

It is unclear how the student was able to bring a knife onto the school campus and inside the building as all high schools have metal detectors and both students and staff are required to go through them.

“Our students, staff, and parents, not just at SJHS but across our school district have lots of questions, and so do we,” Bourcier said by email Thursday. “That is why we are actively working hand-in-hand with the Horry County Police Department to investigate all the events that led up to the assault.”

This story was originally published March 5, 2026 at 11:25 AM.