Conway Students Shocked By Deadly Stabbing-shooting Incident

**Update Sunday**
From WBTW
Investigators continue to search for answers to why a fight broke out between 16-year-old Carolina Forest High School 11th grader Trevor Varinecz and resource officer Marcus Rhodes.

Authorities say Varinecz then stabbed Officer Rhodes and during the fight, the officer pulled his gun in self defense and shot Varinecz.

Coroner Robert Edge says the teen was shot five times, at least once in the chest and once in the leg.

Edge says the shot to the chest was the fatal wound.

Varinecz was pronounced dead at Conway hospital.

Officer Rhodes was treated and released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

Kiana and Brittany Passmore know Varinecz from school and they saw him almost every day on the bus to school.

“He rode our bus since like 6th grade. He always sat in the front, every day,” said Brittany Passmore.

I didn’t know who he was at first until I rode the bus home and figured that he rode the bus and then I figured I saw him before and I knew who it was, and then it hit me,” said Kiana Passmore.

The Passmores say all of the students they know at the school have been talking about Varinecz and how he died, throughout the weekend.

“On the bus Friday, a lot of people were talking about it. They couldn’t believe it was him,” said Brittany Passmore.

The Passmores say they were also shocked to hear Officer Rhodes shot Varinecz.

“They were all talking about it and once they found out it was him who got stabbed they were saying stories about how mean he was to them and all this stuff, but he let me off pretty easy, so I thought he was nice,” said Kiana Passmore.

The Passmores say they’ll have vivid memories of Friday’s incident for the rest of their life.

**Update Saturday 4:10 p.m.**
Coroner: Teen shot 5 times by cop at SC school
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CONWAY, S.C. (AP) - A coroner says the 16-year-old student killed at his South Carolina high school by a police officer was shot five times.
Horry County Coroner Robert Edge told multiple media outlets Saturday that the fatal shot struck Trevor Varinecz in the chest.
Authorities say Varinecz asked the officer if they could talk Friday as classes started at Carolina Forest High School in Conway, then pulled out a knife.
Investigators say the officer was stabbed several times. He was released from the hospital hours later.
The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating.
State Education Department spokesman Jim Foster says Friday's incident was the first time a school police officer has killed a student on campus in South Carolina.

**Update Friday 3:30 p.m.**
CONWAY—A 16-year-old Carolina Forest High School student died Friday morning after an altercation with the school’s resource officer.

Horry County coroner, Robert Edge, says the teen was Trevor Varinecz, a junior at CFHS.

Horry County Police Department Sgt. Robert Kegler said Varinecz asked to speak with the officer, Marcus Rhodes, at 8:25 a.m.. Police said the student attacked and stabbed the officer behind closed doors and Rhodes shot back.

Rhodes is listed in good condition, a hospital official said.

No students at the school witnessed the incident, but were alerted that a “red code” situation was going on the school.

Students said an announcement came over the loudspeaker saying there was a “code red” situation and all students were to remain in their classrooms.

The school was placed on complete lockdown—nobody could come in or leave the building, for most of the morning.

As part of the school’s emergency-response plan, teachers locked their doors and students got under their desks, officials said.

Students said the teachers encouraged them to stay calm during the situation.

Horry County Schools Public Information Officer Teal Britton said students, teachers, and faculty “behaved beautifully” in response to the situation.

Britton said Rhodes has been a resource officer with Carolina Forest High School for more than 10 years.

Students described him as a “tough” but “good person.”

There is no information at this time whether Varinecz had recently been involved in disciplinary action at the school.

The school is equipped with multiple metal detectors. There is no word on how a weapon would have gotten past them.

Carolina Forest HS remained open for the entire day, but parents were able to pick up their children if they wished. Students who drive were able to leave campus themselves, if their parents faxed permission to the school.

As a result of this incident, the Carolina Forest v. South Florence High School football game has been postponed. It has been rescheduled for Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

SLED agents are at CFHS assisting with this investigation.

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) - Officials say a student died after stabbing a police officer at a South Carolina high school.
Several media outlets said the officer shot the student. Police and school officials declined to comment on whether shots were fired.
Authorities did say a 16-year-old boy pulled a knife and fought briefly with an officer as school started Friday morning at Carolina Forest High School in Conway.
Conway Medical Center spokeswoman Julie Rajotte said the student died at the hospital. She said the officer was being treated in the emergency room and was in good condition.
Horry County schools spokeswoman Teal Britton said the boy asked to speak to the officer and the two went into an office before the teen pulled the knife.

Update 11:50 a.m.

Robert Kegler Public Information Officer for Horry County Police Department says SLED is now in charge of the investigation-standard operating procedure for a officer-involved incident.

Update 11:10 a.m.
Officials at the scene report the student who was shot has died. The school is now allowing parents to come and pick-up their kids.

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Carolina Forest High School was placed on lockdown Friday morning after an incident involving a school resource officer being stabbed by a student and the student being shot.

According to Teal Britton with Horry County Schools, the incident happened inside the school shortly after school let in. Britton said a student assaulted the school resource officer with a knife and the officer then fired his gun and shot the student.

Both were taken by ambulance to Conway Hospital for treatment. There’s no word on their conditions.

Britton said the situation is under control. No one is being let in or out of the school though.

The school entrance has been blocked by police cars and no students could be seen outside the school.

News 13 has confirmed two ambulances did leave the school shortly after 9 a.m.

Count on more information on this developing story as it becomes available.