Update: New developments to this story have been posted here.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has opened an investigation into the deaths of two teenagers in western Orange County, one of whom was a student at Eastern Alamance High School and former Eagles football player. 

Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a press release Sept. 19, the information from the ongoing investigation suggests the two deceased individuals are Lyric Woods, 14, and Devin Clark, 18, who were reported missing Saturday afternoon and Sunday respectively. 

The release said the bodies were discovered Sept. 18 just off a power line easement by men riding four-wheelers checking trail cameras. The North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office is working to establish an official cause of death, and according to the release, both victims had what appeared to be gunshot wounds.

“Investigators are still awaiting a report from the medical examiner to confirm the victims’ identities,” Blackwood said in the release. “Although we do not have that confirmation yet, in the absence of any other missing persons matching the descriptions of the individuals located, the tragic but logical conclusion is increasingly clear. This loss is devastating for the victims’ families and friends, and indeed for the entire community.”

Woods was a freshman at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, while Clark was a senior at Eastern Alamance and a former wide receiver on his school’s football team. Les Atkins, Alamance-Burlington School System’s public information officer, told Elon News Network counselors were available today to support students and staff. 

“The loss of a student is a difficult and challenging situation that can generate a high level of anxiety and distress in students,” Atkins said. “During this time, as the school community processes this tragic news and copes with grief, ABSS will have additional counselors from across the district at Eastern High School to support our students and staff.” 

Atkins encouraged Eastern Alamance parents to talk with their students about the event and help them through the grief process. He said Clark was well liked by his classmates and will be remembered by the ABSS community as a “kind-hearted gentle giant.” 

“Our condolences and thoughts go out to Devin’s family, friends and classmates and to the Orange County School community, who are also grieving the loss of a student there,” Atkins said.

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Margaret Faust contributed to the reporting of this story.