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Superintendent Dr. Zickeyous Byrd said Au’Terrious Walter was the kind of student that you’d want to have in class.

“Au’Terrious was a great student with a bright future ahead of him,” Byrd said. “His teachers and his friends describe him as being a great student, full of excitement. He was a student that was definitely looking forward to the future.”

Walter passed away on Friday night after he had been wounded during a drive-by shooting on Wednesday night. Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford said that he was in critical condition after being airlifted to UAB Hospital.

As of this time, no suspects have been charged in the incident.

Byrd said their staff was made aware of the incident Wednesday night, but they were saddened when they found out that he did not make it. He said he had been with the Selma High School staff for part of the day Monday. 

SCS had grief counselors available for students and faculty to be able to talk with all this week.

“We’ve had our counselors there who have been there all day not only just to help the students, but also to help the employees as well to deal with the loss,” Byrd said. “It has been a very difficult day on the Selma High School campus.”

Byrd said there’s nothing more tragic than the loss of a student because he or she is like a member of the family.

“There is nothing more devastating to a school community than the loss of a student,” Byrd said. “It is something that you just can’t prepare for. Our students, we care for them as if they’re our own. And so it’s just like losing one of our very own because we spend a lot of time with our students. We do our best to try to get to know them, and we have to so that we can actually connect and provide them with all that we have so that they could be successful.”

Byrd said he and the SCS staff is working with the family to determine what their needs are so that they can help them as much as they can.

“When I was able to reach out to his mom this weekend, I was able to get her permission so that we can actually pay tribute to Au Terrious,” Byrd said. “Those discussions are underway at this time to see what exactly the family needs. We have some people that are going to assist in trying to help with providing whatever they need.

“We urge everyone to respect his family’s privacy and allow them the space they need to mourn. This is a crucial time for them, and we must ensure they have the privacy they deserve. When the time is right, we encourage you to offer your condolences and support to Au’Terrious’s loved ones, whether through kind words, messages, or other means of comfort.”

Byrd said he understands that this has been a difficult time for the community with the tragic loss of two 16-year-olds so close together.

“I just want to express our sincere sympathy to the family and to let them know that we are here to provide whatever support that they need,” Byrd said “We’re definitely going to be praying for them, and we’re going to stick right here by them.

“In the days ahead, it is crucial that we come together as a community to support each other and honor the memory of this bright and promising 16-year-old sophomore. This young man displayed so much potential and his absence leaves a void that will be felt by many. His loss is a profound tragedy to this entire school community.