ROANOKE RAPIDS — Roanoke Rapids High School Head Football Coach Chris Lyons has been suspended indefinitely as school officials and law enforcement investigate an incident that left a football player with a severe hand injury and led to the discovery of other alleged bullying and hazing within the football program.
The Roanoke Rapids Graded School District released a statement Friday regarding the incident, which occurred following football practice Thursday evening, September 24.
According to the district, emergency services were called at approximately 6 p.m. for a football player who had suffered a severe injury to his hand. Coaches, athletic officials and school administrators were at the scene and accompanied the player to the hospital for treatment.
School officials were subsequently told that the injury may have resulted from an assault or bullying involving one or more individuals. Law enforcement was notified and an investigation was initiated.
The district also began its own investigation Friday, interviewing players and others who may have been involved or witnessed the incident.
According to RRGSD, more than 20 players and other individuals had been interviewed as of Friday.
The district said that investigation uncovered additional incidents of misconduct within the football program, including alleged bullying or hazing by what it described as “a few individuals.” Those incidents had not previously been reported to school officials.
Individuals identified by the district as having engaged in the conduct have been held accountable under the district’s student and athlete codes of conduct, according to the statement.
As the investigation continues, Lyons has been suspended indefinitely pending its outcome.
Assistant Coach Dre Terry will immediately assume the role of acting coach.
Friday night’s scheduled game against Warren County will still be played at 7 p.m.
The district said the decision to play the game was made to avoid negatively affecting the dozens of football players, cheerleaders, band members and families from both schools who were not involved in Thursday’s incident or the other incidents uncovered during the investigation.
Superintendent Dr. Bennett Jones said the district’s immediate concern is for the injured student and his family.
“First, our thoughts and prayers are with our athlete who was injured yesterday. We will continue to support him and his family as he recovers.”
Jones said the district will not tolerate bullying, harassment, hazing, violence or intimidation within its schools or programs.
“We will enforce the laws and policies of our district and will continue to investigate any claims brought to school officials.”
Jones encouraged students experiencing harassment or other concerning behavior to contact a trusted adult at school. Concerns can also be submitted anonymously through the district’s “See Something, Say Something” application, while parents can contact the superintendent’s office at superintendent@rrgsd.org.
The superintendent said the district will also examine whether additional educational and preventative measures are necessary to ensure coaches and students understand the district’s expectations and feel safe reporting concerns.
Both the school district’s investigation and the law enforcement investigation remain ongoing.
