ROANOKE RAPIDS — Roanoke Rapids High School has reinstated Head Football Coach Chris Lyons after a school investigation concluded that a student-athlete’s hand injury during a Sept. 24 locker room incident was accidental and did not occur while the student was being assaulted.
However, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department confirmed Wednesday that its criminal investigation into the incident remains open and active.
Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Lawrence Wiggins told the Roanoke Valley Reporter that the matter remains an “open and active criminal investigation” as far as the department is concerned and that no additional details are being released at this time.
The Roanoke Rapids Graded School District announced the findings of its investigation in an update Tuesday.
According to the district, school officials interviewed all football players, including the injured athlete, collected and analyzed witness statements and reviewed law enforcement documents.
The district said its investigation determined that another player accidentally closed a door on the student’s hand. According to the district, the evidence did not substantiate an intentional act to injure the student with the door and indicated the student was not being assaulted when the hand injury occurred.
The student later reported separate concerns about potential hazing behavior allegedly involving other football players in the weeks leading up to the incident, according to the district.
Those allegations are being investigated separately by school officials.
“The District is committed to providing a safe and inviting environment for all students and will take appropriate action in accordance with Board policy and applicable law in response to any identified concerns,” the district stated.
School officials also concluded that Lyons was unaware of any misconduct that may have risen to the level of hazing. Based on that finding, Lyons was reinstated as head football coach effective immediately.
The district said it will continue supporting the injured student-athlete and his family during his recovery.
“We will continue to support our injured student-athlete and his family as he recovers,” the district said. “Thank you to the RRHS administration for their hard work investigating this incident from a school perspective and subsequent investigations into any concerns expressed.”
The district also acknowledged that investigations outside the school system remain underway.
“We will continue to cooperate with the RRPD and the SBI as they conduct their own investigation,” the district stated.
The district said additional educational and preventative measures are also being implemented to ensure students and coaches understand expectations and feel safe reporting concerns.
Lyons thanked the district administration for its investigation and said he continues to support the injured player.
“This has been a difficult and challenging time for our football program, my family, and all families involved,” Lyons said. “Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my family throughout this process.”
Lyons said he is looking forward to returning his attention to the football program.
“I am excited to be back with our student-athletes and to continue doing what I love: coaching and mentoring young men, helping them to grow both on and off the field,” Lyons said.
The district’s findings conclude its investigation into how the student’s hand was injured and resulted in Lyons’ reinstatement. Separate potential hazing allegations remain under investigation by the district, while RRPD says its criminal investigation remains open and active.
