The attorney representing the family of a Roanoke Rapids High School football player whose hand was injured as a result of apparent bullying said their primary focus right now is his continued healing, safety, and security.

Chrystal Redding, a Halifax County native and Southeast Halifax High School graduate, is representing the family of Adrian Epperson, the student who was injured. She said his parents have authorized the use of his name since he is a juvenile.

Redding confirmed that Epperson’s left hand was injured as a result of what the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District has called an instance of hazing or bullying. “The full extent of the injuries remains to be determined,” she said.

The Roanoke Rapids Police Department said Tuesday it is conducting a criminal investigation into the matter.

“The family is confident that the RRPD will work diligently to pursue all avenues available to them during this investigation,” Redding said. “We will be cooperating with law enforcement as needed to help bring about justice to this situation. The parents' number one focus right now is Adrian's healing of his injuries and for his safety and security.”

She said Epperson’s parents “are also concerned with the overall safety and security of the student-athletes and students at Roanoke Rapids High School.”

“The students should not have to worry about being bullied or hazed while they're trying to learn,” she said. “So we hope to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to find a resolution to these issues to create a more conducive environment for educational advancement.”

Epperson had recently been honored from the House floor in Raleigh by District 27 Representative Rodney D. Pierce through a resolution that recognized him “as one of North Carolina’s most promising young track and field athletes through his exceptional dedication, discipline, and athletic excellence.”

Epperson was recognized as the MVP of the Roanoke Middle School Athletic Conference while at Chaloner Middle School after what Pierce described in the resolution as an outstanding track season in which he demonstrated “remarkable talent, leadership, and commitment to excellence.”

Those accomplishments qualified him to compete in the 2024 Adidas Track Nationals.

He twice broke his personal record, improving from a previous best of 11.7 seconds to 11.4 seconds during the preliminary round — putting him among the top six in the nation — before clocking an 11.2 in the championship finals to finish third in the country. “Adrian’s exceptional performance earned him a third-place finish and a place on the national podium in the 100-meter dash, an extraordinary accomplishment that placed him among the nation’s elite youth sprinters and brought great pride to his family, school, community, and the state of North Carolina.”

The House resolution noted that Epperson has demonstrated the same commitment to excellence in the classroom, earning A/B honor roll recognition during his past two semesters at Chaloner, a reflection of “his ability to balance academic success with athletic achievement.”

In addition to his academic and athletic accomplishments, Epperson has successfully operated his own lawn care business alongside his grandmother Terry Epperson for the past two years, “demonstrating remarkable entrepreneurship, responsibility, financial accountability, and an exceptional work ethic at a young age.”

Pierce said in the resolution that Epperson is an accomplished student-athlete in multiple sports and has demonstrated leadership, teamwork, “and an unwavering commitment to personal growth both on and off the field. Adrian’s accomplishments reflect countless hours of hard work, perseverance, discipline, humility, and dedication, making him an outstanding role model for young people throughout Halifax County and across the state of North Carolina.”

Pierce said this morning, “I wanted to honor Mr. Epperson because I think it's very important that we highlight the accomplishments, whether academically or athletically, by young people in District 27. We need to let them know that, you know, we see them, we acknowledge them, that we support them.”

After meeting Epperson, Pierce described him as a well-mannered, well-spoken young man. “His mother told me he was very excited to be up there. He was very honored and I was honored that he was there. The young man placed third in the country. In his age division, he's literally the fastest middle schooler in the state of North Carolina. He represented us on a national stage. That deserves to be recognized. He’s just a well-rounded young man who has a bright future.”

Asked for a comment on the matter currently under investigation, Pierce replied, “Heartbreaking.”