NEWTON GROVE — A Hobbton Middle School teacher was found dead Wednesday on the Hobbton school campus, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“A school resource officer with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office discovered the body of a deceased male in a vehicle at the Hobbton athletic field,” a brief statement from the Sheriff’s Office read Wednesday. “The male subject appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
The incident is still under investigation and the name of the man was being withheld by authorities as that investigation continued. Some initially identified the man as a member of the Hobbton faculty and a message from Sampson County Schools officials confirmed as much. Despite rumors circulating about the incident and specifics surrounding it, no additional information was released by authorities or the school system.
“Law enforcement is conducting a full investigation,” Valerie Newton, director of Communications and Family Engagement for Sampson County Schools, stated. “There is no other information we are able to release at this time concerning the investigation.”
Sampson County Schools leaders did disseminate a message to Hobbton Middle School families and the community, which Newton shared with The Independent.
“The school has experienced a great loss today,” that message read. “A teacher at Hobbton Middle has passed away and we are all deeply saddened by this loss. Please know that Sampson County Schools is heartbroken to learn of this.”
Hobbton Middle School had additional school counselors, crisis team members, instructional coaches and central office staff at the campus on Thursday to support the school’s staff and students.
“We will work side-by-side with the Hobbton community to try to understand this tragedy,” the SCS message to Hobbton families stated. “Together as a community, we offer our prayers and condolences for the family that has experienced this loss.”