Greensboro police update details of head-on crash that killed 3 teens, injured officer (2024)

GREENSBORO — Teachers and students from the Hairston Middle School family lit candles and stood vigil Wednesday night at the crash site on Walker Avenue where three teen alumni suffered fatal injuries in an early-morning collision with a Greensboro Police officer.

Two of the teenagers, both 14, had recently received their diplomas at the school’s eighth grade graduation ceremony and were headed in the fall to Dudley High School, teachers said.

They were Kenyan Saxton and Brandon Bowie, according to a former teacher assistant. A 15-year-old Hairston alumnus, whose name was not immediately available, also died from his injuries and a police officer was seriously hurt.

The Greensboro Police Department posted on its Facebook page Thursday afternoon that the officer “remains hospitalized for treatment of serious injuries.’’ Police spokeswoman Annette Ayres said the department has not named the officer because doing so after such “critical” incidents is usually at the discretion of Chief John Thompson, who has been out of town and will return to headquarters on Friday.

“The officer and his family want to express their appreciation for the outpouring of support for his recovery,’’ the post said.

The crash happened during a high-speed chase through the city early Wednesday.

Police said an officer had attempted to stop an erratic, speeding car driven by one of the teens and traveling in the wrong direction.

Another officer in a police cruiser attempted to help stop the car, but the teens collided with that cruiser in the 3900 block of Walker Avenue about 2:51 a.m., police said during a news conference Wednesday.

The officer was traveling in his squad car at the time of impact, Ayres said. “It was nearly a head-on collision,’’ she said.

Police have said they do not know which teen was operating the vehicle.

The chase began after an officer saw a car traveling the wrong way at the intersection of West Market Street and East Lake Drive and attempted to stop the vehicle. Suspecting the driver was impaired, the officer pursued the vehicle.

The crash forced the closure of Walker Avenue between the intersections of South Holden Road and Wicker Street for more than seven hours.

Police crash investigators were at the scene for the better part of the day on Wednesday. The Greensboro Police Department has requested the State Highway Patrol conduct an investigation into the crash.

The department’s Professional Standards Division will conduct an internal investigation to determine if “policies were followed,’’ which is standard protocol after officer-involved collisions, the release said.

The officers involved have been placed on administrative duty until the investigation of the incident is completed.

Meanwhile, staff from Hairston Middle School are trying to soothe the teens’ grieving schoolmates and families, one teaching assistant said.

“It’s so hard to believe,’’ said Raven Hooker, who got to know Brandon and Kenyan well during her three years helping teach at the school.

“I did have a real close relationship with Brandon and Kenyan, and I have watched them grow. They both had great personalities,’’ Hooker said. “Both of them always made jokes. Brandon used to snatch my phone and take pictures on my phone and joke around. Their smiles were captivating.’’

Kenyan wore the No. 8 jersey on the school’s basketball team and had a tight friendship with Brandon, Hooker said.

Brandon hoped to become a rapper, said Hooker, a singer from whom Brandon sought advice about recording. “He would say, ‘When you gonna get me in the studio?’”

“We need as much support as we can get,’’ Hooker said, explaining school leaders are working to find free counseling for students grieving the loss of their peers.

Without the structure of school, mischief can bloom, Hooker reminded.

“There’s something that’s happening when kids have nothing to do and nobody to turn to in the community,’’ Hooker said.

“A lot of these parents are working two and three jobs just to make it. And as parents and teachers, we say to kids, ‘Please don’t get into trouble. Go on to high school and make a life for yourself.’”

“They were good kids, and they were human. Kids are curious. We all make mistakes.’’

The incident once again raises questions about the necessity of high-speed pursuits by law enforcement.

“I know the police were doing their job,’’ Hooker said. “But be cautious when you’re chasing. Maybe there’s a safer way to apprehend?’’