A North Carolina parent has been charged with felony assault by strangulation following a Monday morning attack on a student.
Quinton Earl Lofton, 43, allegedly attacked a 17-year-old student in a hallway and stairwell at Fike High School, according to Wilson County Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Wanda Samuel.
The footage shows Lofton grabbing the student’s shirt, shoving him down a flight of stairs, and causing the student to appear to have a seizure before he slowly got up.
Fike High School Principal Dr. Ross Renfrow addressed the incident in a message sent to families at 12:15 p.m. Monday, according to Amber Lynch, director of public information for Wilson County Schools.
‘I wanted to make families aware of an incident that happened on our campus this morning,’ Renfrow said in the statement. ‘A parent entered our building and was directed to report to the office. The parent did not report to the office and instead assaulted a student in the hallway based on a situation that happened outside of school.
‘Myself and other staff members responded immediately, defused the situation and escorted the parent out of the building,’ Renfrow said. ‘We are working in collaboration with the sheriff’s office, and charges have been filed.’
Renfrow emphasized that the safety of students and staff remains a top priority. ‘Please use this situation as a reminder that we will not tolerate violence or threats against our students or staff,’ he said.
Speaking to WRAL News, the victim’s family said their son is still recovering from the altercation.
‘He’s pretty traumatized right now. He’s very shaken up by the whole event that took place this morning, ‘ said the teen’s sister, Shaniqua. ‘He’s pushing through. He’s trying to, you know, remain positive through the whole situation.’
Quinton Earl Lofton, 43, allegedly attacked a 17-year-old student in a hallway and stairwell at Fike High School,
The incident, captured on video and shared on social media, shows Lofton grabbed the student by the his, shoving him backward onto the lower steps of a staircase
Lofton was booked into the Wilson County Detention Center under a $7,500 secured bond and was released within a few hours.
The incident, captured on video and shared on social media, shows Lofton grabbing a male student by the neck, shoving him backward onto the lower steps of a staircase.
A female student can be heard yelling for Lofton to stop.
Moments later, the male student appears to have a seizure as he slides down the stairs before being helped to his feet by another student.
Renfrow is also seen in the video, stepping between Lofton and the student, saying, ‘You back up, back up,’ and firmly instructing, ‘Don’t touch him.’
Samuel confirmed that Wilson County Sheriff’s Office investigators have reviewed the footage.
‘We have reviewed the video, and Quinton Lofton has been charged with felony assault by strangulation and disorderly conduct,’ Samuel said. ‘It was reported that Lofton entered the school, bypassed the front office, and assaulted a student over an isolated incident that occurred outside of school.’
Lofton also faces unrelated, pending charges in Wilson County.
Principal Ross Renfrow of Fike High School assaulted based on a situation that happened outside of school
In April, the Wilson Police Department charged him with four counts of felony child abuse-sexual act as well as two counts each of taking indecent liberties with a child, statutory sex offense with a child, and sexual activity by a substitute parent in connection with cases dating back to 2020.
The investigation remains ongoing.
