Carolina Forest student shot, killed; resource officer stabbed

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, identified the teen as Trevor Varinecz, a junior at Carolina Forest.

Varinecz was shot five times, at least once in the chest and once in the leg, Edge said. The shot to the chest was the fatal wound, the coroner said.

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.

CAROLINA FOREST
HIGH SCHOOL

Principal: Velna Allen
Grades: 9-12
Enrollment: 1930

700 Gardner Lacy Road
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579

VICTIMS

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Two ambulances left the school shortly after 9 a.m., transporting both individuals to Conway Medical Center. Varinecz was reported dead around 11:30 a.m., according to a hospital official. Edge says he died in the emergency room. His autopsy will done Saturday at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Rhodes was treated at Conway Medical Center and released around 3:30 p.m.

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.

"I was scared we all thought there was a gunman on campus, “said Senior Amber Lukowski, "and we kept hearing stuff outside and we thought there was somebody in our hall one of the girls in my class was terrified and had to go hide under teacher's desk because she was behind the door."

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. Britton said the metal detectors are portable so they can be used at various events. Detectors along with the handheld wands are used to cover the majority of the school. The zones they cover each day are random due to the lack of resources they can't cover every entry point. The area in Friday's incident didn't have a metal detector due to the coverage schedule but generally does during their rotation. Metal detectors are there for protection but are not 100 % protection against random acts of violence like the one that happen Friday.

Carolina Forest HS remained open for the entire day, but parents were able to pick up their children if they wished. Dozens and dozens of cars with worried parents lined up as soon as officials gave the all clear.

"Everybody is nervous everybody is concerned you know trying to get a hold of their kids seeing if their kids are ok, they've got their cell phones all turned off you can't find out nothing...nothing," said James Strumki whose was waiting to pick up his son.

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.