EDENTON, N.C. – A counselor and social worker at Martin Millennium Academy in Tarboro, Donald Lanier, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a woman identified as Brooks Smith. Lanier was arrested on Tuesday after Chowan County deputies responded to a call on Bella Vista Drive in Edenton, where Smith suffered serious head trauma from an assault. She was taken to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville, where she later died. Lanier has also been accused of assaulting a government official or employee and resisting a public officer on Jan. 2.
Edgecombe County Public Schools has stated that Lanier has been terminated and had been suspended with pay since Jan. 4 due to prior concerns. Lanier had been employed with the district since March of 2022. A spokesperson for ECPS expressed deep concern about the situation and mentioned that counseling staff is available to students and staff who need support.
This tragic incident has shocked the community and raised questions about the safety and well-being of students and staff at Martin Millennium Academy. The details surrounding Brooks Smith’s death have sparked a demand for more information about the circumstances that led to the assault and what measures were in place to prevent such a tragic event. The impact on the students and staff at the academy is a concern, and the school district will need to address the emotional and psychological implications of this incident.
The investigation into the assault and murder charges against Donald Lanier is ongoing, and the community is awaiting further updates on the case. Meanwhile, the focus is on providing support to those affected by this tragic event. The priority now is to ensure the safety and well-being of the students and staff at Martin Millennium Academy and to address any underlying issues that may have contributed to this devastating outcome.