RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A massive law enforcement search in east Raleigh Sunday night was for several children who escaped a psychiatric hospital just off Sunnybrook Road north of Poole Road, police said.

The escape of the children happened during a “disturbance” reported just after 8:05 p.m. at the Holly Hill Hospital – South Campus, located near WakeMed, according to a Raleigh Police Department news release.

“Upon arrival, officers learned that seven juveniles escaped the facility on foot,” police said in the release.

The facility is for inpatient and outpatient treatment of psychiatric and addictive diseases.

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K-9 teams and drones were used during the search for nearly three hours. By 10:50 p.m., all seven escapees were back in custody, police said.

“These juveniles were not considered armed or dangerous, and there was no threat to the surrounding community during this incident,” police said.

The incident follows a large brawl involving more than 20 girls in December 2024. Then, the large disturbance involved people hitting each other with hands and kicking — but also involved chairs and other items, police said.

Six of the girls in 2024 were taken to WakeMed to be checked for possible injuries.

The Raleigh Police Department, Wake County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and the State Capitol Police Department were involved in the search and capture of the children on Sunday night.