Chaos breaks out at Zephyrhills High School in Florida as more than a dozen students argue in the hallway as more fights break out
- 14 students were involved in two fights that broke out at Zephyrhills High School in Pasco County
- 13 students are now facing charges including battery and disrupting school function
- Videos show students piling on top of each other and fighting as staff continued to struggle to break up the fight
Several students at a Florida high school are facing charges after fights broke out on the grounds on September 12.
District spokesperson Corey Dierdorff confirmed that 14 students were involved in two fights that broke out during lunch at Zephyrhills High School in Pasco County. One fight took place in the hallway and the other in the cafeteria.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, 13 students are now facing charges including battery and disrupting school functions. The students could also have to deal with ‘discipline’ from the neighborhood.
Cellphone videos of the fighting were widely circulated on social media before being taken down. The videos show students piling on each other and fighting as staff continued to struggle to break up the fight. At one point the fighting also involved the school principal, who tried to break up the fighting before ending up on the ground.
Videos of the fighting were widely circulated on social media before they were broken up. Students are seen piled on top of each other and fighting, as staff continued to struggle to break up the fight
At one point the fighting also involved the school’s principal, who tried to break up the fighting before ending up on the ground.
The school was placed in “controlled campus status,” meaning students and staff remained under close supervision through dismissal
In a press release, Dierdorff said, “the sheer number of students involved and the intensity of the situation made intervention challenging, as students continued to engage in the altercation despite efforts to de-escalate.”
Eventually the police were called to get the situation under control. The school was subsequently placed on ‘controlled campus status’, meaning students and staff remained under close supervision via dismissal.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that “out of an abundance of caution, an increased law enforcement presence will remain on campus for the remainder of the day.”
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that “out of an abundance of caution, an increased law enforcement presence will remain on campus for the remainder of the day.”
The students involved in the fighting were kept off campus the next day, and the district said they should not be allowed back on campus until the discipline process is completed.
Superintendent Kurt Browning said in a Sept. 13 statement: “Let me be absolutely clear: this type of behavior will not be tolerated in Pasco County Schools. Every student has the right to a safe and stimulating learning environment and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that this remains the case.’
In addition to the charges, Principal Christina Stanley and other school administrators are also considering disciplinary action.
The students involved in the fighting were kept off campus the next day, and the district said they should not be allowed back on campus until the discipline process is resolved.