On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the School District of Pickens County Board of Trustees released the following statement regarding an incident involving Daniel High School football players at an off-campus retreat.

“The full Board of Trustees of the School District of Pickens County was made aware late last week that a very serious incident occurred at a school-sponsored football camp at Presbyterian College earlier this month. Board members have now seen the disturbing video that is circulating on social media. This incident, which involved numerous student athletes, resulted in the injury of one student and criminal charges for several students. This matter is serious, not acceptable, and is being addressed by the administration and law enforcement.

“The Board expects the administration not only to continue working cooperatively with Laurens County law enforcement, but also to continue internally investigating the matter from the top down to include staff, student, and programmatic issues. This incident will NOT be swept under the rug, and all appropriate corrective and disciplinary actions will be taken.

“The students involved in this serious incident are all minors. As such, the Board cannot release specific details regarding disciplinary consequences based on federal law. However, all students involved in the situation will be disciplined, at both the school and athletic levels; sanctions may differ based on individual involvement. This matter remains under active investigation, and outcomes likely will evolve as facts continue to be discovered.

“The Board is appalled that this serious incident occurred and that a student was injured during a school-sponsored event. The Board remains committed to ensuring the safety of all students and athletes and will take the necessary steps to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future.”