Police have arrested a young female suspect for allegedly brutally assaulting another teenage girl in a brawl that erupted near Hazelwood East High School in Spanish Lake Missouri late last week.
On March 1, an altercation between two teenage girls near the intersection of Norgate Drive and Claudine Drive ended with one having her head slammed into the concrete until she started convulsing from a seizure, according to local media reports. An altercation between multiple teenagers then erupted around them. Video of the fight was shared widely online, including on the X platform, where it caught the attention of platform owner Elon Musk, who commented, “Her head was viciously smashed into the concrete several times. This is at minimum third degree (unintentional) murder.”
Officers from the St. Louis County Police Department found one girl with a severe head injury at the scene, and she remains in critical condition after being taken to the hospital. A 15-year-old girl has been arrested and charged with assault over her alleged involvement in the incident. According to reports, she is being held by St. Louis County Family Court.
At this stage, police are still investigating and have not disclosed if any of the people involved were high school students, the cause of the fight, or if any further arrests will be made, according to local reports. An update is expected within the next few days. The identity of the alleged suspect has not been disclosed because she is a minor. The identity of the victim has also not been confirmed by authorities.
In a media statement, the Hazelwood School District called any incident where “children are hurt” tragic, while also offering “sincerest condolences to everyone involved.” The school district is offering additional emotional support to those in need from its crisis team. They also condemned bullying in all its forms.
“Bullying and fighting in the community is an issue for which we all need to take ownership and work towards a resolution for the sake of our children,” the media statement said.
Violence on the Rise in Some Schools
James Clark, vice president of Public Safety and Community Response at the Urban League, said there is an urgent need for intervention for troubled youth after he reviewed the footage of the brutal assault.“The social pressure is to be socially dysfunctional. Who can be the loudest? Who can be the most disruptive?” he said of the unhealthy culture and values prevailing in some segments of society.
Urban League advocates for pursuing a comprehensive approach to combating violence in communities.
School officials described the situation as a “matter of the utmost urgency” that involves the safety and well-being of the students, school, and community. Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan called the measure “not appropriate.”
Instead, Mayor Sullivan claimed a collaborative approach that involves the entire community, including parents, students, educators, and law enforcement, would be adequate to “tackle these challenges head-on.”
Researchers examined survey results from the California Healthy Kids Survey between 2001 and 2019. The state’s education department administers the annual questionnaire to fifth, seventh, ninth, and 11th graders about a variety of subjects, including school climate, safety, and wellness.
