Dozens of South Florida students and faculty were hospitalized Thursday after being exposed to pepper spray following an altercation at a high school, officials said.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said at a news conference that 32 people were transported to hospitals after a fight broke out and pepper spray was deployed at Lake Worth Community High School in Lake Worth Beach, about 40 miles north of Fort Lauderdale.
Between 10 and 12 additional students were evaluated and then taken home by their families, Public Information Officer Tom Reyes said.
The principal of Lake Worth High School described the incident as an altercation “involving multiple students.”
School police and administrators worked to de-escalate the situation and used pepper spray, injuring multiple students and staff, the principal said in a statement.
The principal noted that the campus remained secure and that school continued normally.
John Filippelli contributed.
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