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2w ago

Pepper Spray Used by School Officer in Lake Worth High Cafeteria Fight Sends 32 to Hospitals

Administrators say two students now face criminal charges, with officials reviewing footage and confirming most injuries were minor.

FILE - The circumstances surrounding the fight and use of pepper spray are still under investigation. It’s unclear whether the spray was used by school staff, law enforcement, or students. Officials have not yet released details about the severity of injuries or whether any arrests have been made. (WPEC){ }
FILE - Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said that about 20 to 30 people were being treated and were taken to surrounding hospitals. The situation unfolded near Lake Worth Road, near the school, where multiple fire-rescue units remain on scene. (WPEC){br}
BOSTON, MA – JUNE 7: The state flag of Massachusetts, depicting a Native American under an arm wielding a sword, hangs in front of the Massachusetts State House in Boston on June 7, 2019. There has been an ongoing effort to change the flag, under fire for decades, but now Cambridge city officials are taking a stand. City councilors voted last month to support a bill in the State House that proposes creating a commission to redesign the flag, which Native Americans and others say is offensive. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Overview

  • The altercation began around 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the Lake Worth Community High School cafeteria at 1701 Lake Worth Road in Palm Beach County.
  • Palm Beach County Fire Rescue reported a large response that included 44 fire-rescue and private ambulances.
  • Officials said 32 students and staff were transported to four hospitals, and another 10 to 12 were assessed on campus and taken home by parents.
  • The School District confirmed a School Police officer deployed pepper spray to disperse the crowd; the campus was secured and classes continued.
  • Video and student accounts show the officer spraying in the crowded cafeteria, with many reporting coughing, burning eyes and throats, and asthma-related distress as administrators continue disciplinary reviews.