A teenager arrested for stabbing a classmate at Pinecrest High School on April 28, 2023, has pled guilty to attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor possession of a weapon on school property, according to Moore County District Attorney Mike Hardin.
Christopher Tarter was sentenced by Judge Michael Stone to 196 to 248 months (approximately 16.33 to 20.66 years) in prison for the serious charges. Upon release, Tarter will also face five years of probation, including a 45-day underlying sentence for the misdemeanor, with strict conditions barring any contact with the victim or her family.
The incident left Avery Slatcher, a junior at the time, in critical condition after being stabbed more than 20 times in the back while exiting her car in the auditorium parking lot before school started. Tarter fled into the woods but was apprehended shortly after.
District Attorney Hardin expressed pride in Slatcher and her family’s resilience, stating, “It is clearly a miracle, and only by the grace of God, she is still alive.” He also thanked the individuals who aided her at the scene, as well as the medical staff who worked tirelessly to save her life.