High school teacher's chokehold left 15-year-old student unconscious, North Carolina cops say

Simone Jasper, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Aug 4, 2025

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RALEIGH, N.C. — A teacher put a 15-year-old student in a chokehold, leaving the high schooler unconscious, North Carolina police said.

Devon Leron Murphy is accused of assaulting the student at Douglas Byrd High School, where he teaches criminal justice and coaches the boys’ varsity basketball team, according to the Fayetteville Police Department and Cumberland County Schools.

Now, the 41-year-old teacher is charged with assault by strangulation and misdemeanor child abuse, police said. An attorney representing Murphy declined to comment about the case to McClatchy News.

“As soon as the situation was brought to our attention, we reported it to law enforcement and suspended the employee with pay, pending the outcome of the investigation,” Cumberland County Schools told McClatchy News in an emailed statement. “These allegations are concerning and do not reflect the standards we expect of those who serve our students. The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority.”

The case dates to March 25, when Murphy is accused of placing his arm around a student’s neck, police said. According to an arrest warrant, the teen was put in a chokehold, lost consciousness and was left with a swollen forehead.

The teacher was booked into the Cumberland County jail on July 31. He was released on a $25,000 bond and has his next court date scheduled for Aug. 20, according to police and WNCN.

An investigation was ongoing as of Aug. 2. Anyone with information is urged to call police at 910-578-2597 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477. People also can visit fay-nccrimestoppers.org or use the P3 Tips smartphone application.

Fayetteville is a roughly 65-mile drive south from Raleigh.

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