Student Shot Outside North Carolina Middle School Dies After Fighting 'Valiantly For His Life': Police

Almost a week after getting shot in a North Carolina middle school parking lot, a 15-year-old high school student passed away, and now the suspect has been charged with murder, according to authorities.

Around 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 23, officers responded to Moore Square Middle School, the Raleigh Police Department said.

There, police found Shamar Leverette suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was rushed to an area hospital.

At the time, police arrested 22-year-old Steven Stanley and charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, and possession of a firearm by a felon, officials said.

On Oct. 29, Leverette died from his injuries at WakeMed Hospital, WRAL reported.

The teen victim’s mother told WRAL that her son “got caught in some very bad crossfire.”

Chief Estella Patterson told the station in a statement that the "juvenile fought valiantly for his life."

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of this young man during this difficult time," Patterson said. "Any loss of life in our community is a tragedy, but when the lives of our youngest members are cut short, it affects us all."

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After the teen’s death, the charges against Stanley were upgraded to include one count of murder. He was being held in the Wake County Jail without bond.

According to family members, Stanley — who reportedly has a long criminal history and was released from prison only two months before the deadly shooting occurred — and the victim, Leverette, did not know each other.

The investigation is ongoing.