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Two Students Charged After Lake Worth High Cafeteria Fight as Pepper Spray Sends 32 to Hospitals

District leaders say the school police officer followed established procedures during the crowd dispersal.

Overview

  • The disturbance began during a Sept. 18 cafeteria fight at Lake Worth Community High School, where a school resource officer deployed pepper spray to break up the crowd.
  • Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said 32 students and staff were transported to four hospitals, and another 10 to 12 were evaluated on campus.
  • Officials reported no serious injuries and said most medical evaluations were for pepper spray effects such as watery eyes, coughing and breathing irritation.
  • Principal Elena Villani said two students who started the altercation face criminal charges and three involved students have been removed as administrators review video for additional violations.
  • Video and student accounts show widespread exposure in the cafeteria, while a retired deputy chief and a school resource officer association official described pepper spray as a standard crowd-control tool.