A large fight at Towers High School in DeKalb County was broken up Wednesday when school police pepper-sprayed those involved, the school district confirmed.
Emergency medical personnel treated students who were affected by the pepper spray, the district said in a statement. At least one student was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. It is not clear how the student was injured.
All students who were involved in the fight, which broke out at around 12:50 p.m., have been charged, according to the statement.
The district declined to provide further details about the fight Wednesday, stating that the incident is still under investigation.
But on Thursday, the district released a lengthy statement announcing an increased presence of social workers and psychologists at the high school. It also detailed the district’s no-tolerance policy for violence and the preemptive measures in place to address violent behavior, including small group sessions and different programs to help students at risk of engaging in risky behavior.
“The district encourages parents to discuss these incidents with their children and emphasizes when a student brings a weapon to school, they are subject to district rules and Georgia law,” the release stated. “The district will continue to implement proactive measures to provide a safe and positive learning environment for students.”
On Wednesday, Channel 2 Action News reported that more than a dozen resource officers were at the school, and at least three ambulances were seen in the parking lot. Students who spoke to the news station said the fight broke out in the cafeteria after officers tried to de-escalate the situation, which led to students attacking the officers.
The fight is just the latest incident at a DeKalb County school since the school year began.
In August, a former student and another man were arrested after driving a vehicle toward police outside Lithonia High, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. A school employee noticed the two sitting in a vehicle on school property and repeatedly asked them to leave, but they refused.
A school resource officer was alerted, and as the officer approached, the driver put the vehicle in reverse, struck several cars and then drove the vehicle toward the officer, according to previous reports. The officer then shot at the vehicle, authorities said, grazing the driver who then stopped the car. A gun was found inside the vehicle.
Then in October, a Clarkston High student was stabbed on campus during a fight, according to previous reports.
Three weeks ago, on Jan. 14, a 19-year-old woman was carjacked in the parking lot of Lithonia High as she waited on her brother to get out of school.
Less than two weeks ago, gunfire erupted near the main exit of McNair High School just before dismissal, though no injuries were reported.
In addition, another fight broke out Monday at Cedar Grove High, Channel 2 Action News reported.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain a top priority,” the district said after Wednesday’s fight, as well as after the previous incidents.
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