Chaos erupts at Zephyrhills High School in Florida as more than a dozen students brawl in the hallways and several other fights break out.
- 14 students were involved in two fights that broke out at Zephyrhills High School in Pasco County.
- 13 students now face charges, including battery and disrupting school operations.
- Videos show students crowded together and fighting while staff struggled to break up the fight.
Several students at a Florida high school are facing charges after fights broke out on the field on September 12.
District spokesperson Corey Dierdorff confirmed that 14 students were involved in two fights that broke out at Zephyrhills High School in Pasco County around lunchtime. One fight took place in the hallway and the other in the cafeteria.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, 13 students now face charges including battery and disrupting school operations. Students could also face “discipline” from the district.
Cellphone videos of the fights were widely shared on social media before being taken down. The videos show students crowded together and fighting while staff continued to struggle to end the fight. At one point, the fights also involved the school principal who was seen trying to break up the fights before ending up on the ground.
Videos of the fights circulated widely on social media before being removed. The students are seen crowded together and fighting while the staff continued to struggle to end the fight.
At one point, the fights also involved the school principal who was seen trying to break up the fights before ending up on the ground.
The school was placed under “controlled campus status,” meaning students and staff remained under close surveillance until dismissal.
In a press release, Dierdorff said, “the large number of students involved and the intensity of the situation made intervention difficult, as students continued to participate in the altercation despite efforts to defuse the situation “.
Eventually the police were called to help control the situation. The school was then placed under “controlled campus status,” meaning students and staff remained under close surveillance until dismissal.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that “the increased law enforcement presence will remain on campus out of an abundance of caution for the remainder of the day.”
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that “the increased law enforcement presence will remain on campus out of an abundance of caution for the remainder of the day.”
The students involved in the fights were banned from campus the next day and the district said they would not be allowed back on campus until the disciplinary process was resolved.
Superintendent Kurt Browning said in a statement released Sept. 13: “Let me be perfectly clear: Behavior of this nature will not be tolerated in Pasco County Schools. Every student has the right to a safe and supportive learning environment, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure that this remains the case.
In addition to the accusations, Principal Christina Stanley and other school administrators are also considering disciplinary action.
The students involved in the fights were banned from campus the next day and the district said they would not be allowed back on campus until the disciplinary process was resolved.
