Bradford High School fight sparks concern, extra security

10 students suspended, 3 might be expelled

STARKE, Fla. – Extra Bradford County deputies were assigned to Bradford County High School Wednesday, one day after a brawl as classes ended for the day.

There were no serious injuries and no one was arrested, but 10 students have been suspended -- ranging from three to 10 days -- for their involvement in the fight, assistant superintendent David Harris said. 

Three students have been recommended for expulsion and two for alternative education. An expulsion committee votes to determine what will happen to the students.

Officials said it appears the groups got into two separate fights, one near the tennis courts and one outside the gym.

After cellphone video of students believed to be 16 to 18 years old fighting was posted on Snapchat, students and parents said they are concerned about safety. 

"We are there, we are listening and we do monitor social media," Bradford County Sheriff's Office Capt. George Konkel said.

The video lasts less than a minute and appears to involve multiple teenagers. Some believe the fight was racially motivated.

Konkel said racial slurs were used by both sides. Detectives are trying to determine if a parent was part of the fight as well.

"If that is the case, (if) they were involved, then there more than likely could be charges to follow," Konkel said.

Eight to nine individuals have had their cases passed on to the State Attorney's Office, which will decide whether to file charges, Sgt. Gerald Ruise said.

Charges, if pressed, would likely be simple affray (fighting).

Investigators said the school does have good surveillance cameras, so they have footage beyond the cellphone video to help them figure out what happened and who was involved.

School officials said there were seven to 10 deputies at the school Wednesday, even though there is no reason to believe there will be any more issues.

"We are just as concerned about every kid as parents are concerned," Assistant School Superintendent David Harris said. "We’ve got a lot of good things going on and unfortunately one negative incident such as this can overshadow all the good things that are going on."

Deputies and school leaders said they’ve identified and questioned eight students involved so far, but there may be several more. They face suspension or expulsion. Again -- they say there’s an extra police presence on the campus now, but they don’t think there will be any more problems. 


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