CFHS Students return after Friday’s shooting and stabbing incident

Students returned to class at Carolina Forest High School Monday morning after a stabbing and shooting Friday.

Investigators said that 11th grader Trevor Varinecz asked to speak with school resource officer Marcus Rhodes behind closed doors.

Authorities said the 16-year-old then stabbed Officer Rhodes and during the fight Rhodes pulled his gun and shot Varinecz in self defense. The Horry County Coroner’s office said that Varinecz was shot five times. He later doed Friday at Conway Hospital. 

Rhodes was released from the same hospital Friday afternoon.

The recent tragedy however didn’t stop Sophomore Justin Citro from coming to school. Citro said the event is still fresh in his mind especially because it was talked about over the entire weekend among his friends. However he said that he is trying not to think about it as much.

“It is kind of nerve wracking coming back you know,” said Citro, “there was a death in that hall you know we’re all still kind of nervous and I’m still kind of shocked that it happened.“

Freshman David Derochea said that he felt a little anxious about coming to school Monday morning and wasn’t sure about how the day was going to be like.

“It’s really weird coming back after a death just happened we don’t know what’s going to happen at school today and how people are going to react to the situation and I feel pretty safe coming back because we have so much protection here,“ Derochea said.
Principal Velna Allen and an administrative team that included Superintendent Dr. Cindy Elsberry were at the school over the weekend to work on a plan for Monday morning’s start.

She said counselors from the high school as well as the district office will be on hand to assist students.

Some parents like James Strumke said that knowing there is on hands help available within the school put him and his wife at ease.

“They can only do so much and you know everybody has to talk to the kids and make sure that the kids are doing ok and I mean everybody just has to pitch in right now,“ said Strumke.

News 13 spoke with 15th judicial Deputy Solicitor Fran Humphries who said that “based on the facts and circumstances that we are aware as of today the solicitor’s office preliminary assessment suggests that officer Rhodes’ actions are legally justified but right now there is no solid answer until sled has thoroughly completed it’s investigation into the incident.”

Tune into News 13 at 5 and 6pm tonight to hear reaction from students and parents.