Parents want answers after 7-year-old walked away from school

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Seven-year-old Christopher White's parents picked him up from Blythe Elementary School Wednesday.

They wanted to make sure he got home safely after they said he walked out of school alone and down a busy highway before being picked up by a passing Samaritan.

His parents reached out to Eyewitness News for answers and we took their concerns straight to CMS.

Cathey Johnson was overcome with emotion when she thought about the woman who found Christopher walking alone near Eastfield Road and Interstate 485 in north Charlotte. Johnson described the woman as "my guardian angel."

The boy's parents said he left school after meeting with the guidance counselor. Christopher's 8-year-old brother died from cancer last year and he's been having a tough time dealing with the loss.

After the meeting, his parents said the counselor released him to go back to class, but instead, Christoper walked out of the school. He went down Old Statesville Road and inside North Mecklenburg High School.

Frankie White, Christopher's father, said, "His older brother attends North Meck and he's very close to his brother and was seeking comfort."

His parents are not clear on the details but said Christopher asked an adult at the high school to get his brother.

They said that person didn't help him and Christopher walked out of that school and crossed Highway 115 to walk home when a woman driving by spotted him. She picked him up and left a note at the boy's house because no one was home. The woman then called Blythe Elementary. Officials there had no idea Christopher was missing.

"I don't see how no one saw him," Johnson said.

His parents said school leaders were very apologetic, but sorry isn't enough.

"Definitely some systems need to be put in place so that when children go from one place to the next there's some type of followup," White said.

We asked CMS about this incident and a spokesperson said this is an isolated incident and the principal is talking with the parents and working out a plan for their son.

The district told us, "The safety and education of students at Blythe Elementary is my top priority. I take this situation very seriously and took immediate action to review safety procedures at our school. I have talked to staff about the safety of our students and we will reinforce the buddy system in our school to monitor students as they move about the campus. We will always put the safety of our students first and take the necessary measures to protect them."

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