CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – A male student from Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was met with pure brutality by his peers Tuesday and it was all caught on camera.
Local 10 News obtained cellphone video Wednesday depicting a fight among students at MSD at North Community Park in nearby Coral Springs that showed the male getting jumped by multiple teens who were seen pummeling him with heavy blows.
Eventually, the student was picked up by at least a few of his peers, who then threw him back on the ground, causing the male to land awkwardly on his neck and head, instantly going limp.
A crowd was seen forming around the chaos and additional cellphone video showed most of the students standing and recording the fight instead of calling for help.
Some students appeared to check on the boy who appeared completely unconscious as they rolled him over on his back. You can hear someone ask if the student was breathing, but others appeared to be more entertained by the fact he was unconscious.
Police told Local 10 News that the male student sustained a skull fracture during the incident and is being treated at a local hospital.
Local 10 News spoke with MSD students who were there when the fight broke out and expressed their concern and disbelief after the incident happened.
“At first it was just a crowd. It was a small argument, disagreement, which turned into something really insane,” said MSD senior Jahron McClellan.
“I feel that there should be more cops here,” said MSD senior T’rique Fillmore.
“I think it’s like unreasonable,” said MSD junior Athena Sitaras. “It shouldn’t happen especially between kids.”
The viral video is sparking outrage in the South Florida community, which already went through utter devastation in 2018 when a shooting at the school claimed the lives of 17 people.
“I was really outraged, very livid,” said Ed Rodriguez, whose two sons attend MSD. “You know this shouldn’t happen especially after the history that Douglas has recently. You would think there would be more security.”
“If you’re going to use that as student overflow parking, the district needs to assign some kind of security there and not necessarily leave it to the city of Coral Springs to monitor that,” Rodriguez added. “BSO and Coral Springs need to work together to secure that parking lot cause that should never happen.”
There was previous speculation that the fight took place on school grounds, in one of the parking lots, but in a statement obtained by Local 10 News Wednesday, school principal Michelle Kefford told parents that the incident occurred at a nearby park and not on school grounds.
Read the statement here:
“Hello Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Families, this is Principal Kefford. I’m reaching out regarding a disturbing incident that took place off-campus, after school Tuesday at North Community Park in Coral Springs.
Several students were involved in a physical altercation and one student was injured. While this park is not a school or district-operated property, the safety of our students is always our priority, and we are working with law enforcement to help identify those involved. Due to the open investigation, I am not able to provide additional details, but I want to assure you this situation is being taken seriously.
Please do remind your students to say something if they see something. As always, thank you for your support.”
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Principal Michelle Kefford
Broward County School Board Vice Chair Debbi Hixon called the attack a “horrific violent act” in a statement to Local 10 News, which read, in part:
“We cannot continue to allow students to be violent and not hold them accountable for their actions.”
Authorities also told Local 10 News that the park is technically a Coral Springs property, despite MSD being located in Parkland.
They said that students who park there are required to pay a fee and must have a pass from the city in order to park there.
A City of Coral Springs spokesperson clarified the rules and regulations Wednesday for people who park at North Community Park, which you can read here:
Vela: Does the city have any sort of agreement (verbal, written) with the district regarding the parking and its use for MSD students at the North Community Park?
City of Coral Springs: “The city provides up to 200 spots for Junior MSD parking at North Community Park. The parking is managed through a permit process, there is no written or verbal agreement with BCPS.” For more information on the permit and how to access it, click here.
Vela: Does the city provide security by way of police at the park for students during school arrival and dismissal times?
City of Coral Springs: “I have confirmed that two school resource officers who are assigned to Eagle Ridge and County Hills do go to North Community Park for MSD student dismissal from 2:40 p.m. to approximately 3 p.m.”
Vela: Parents say kids who park here have to get a pass from the city. What is the process to get such pass? How much do they pay? Does it get renewed every year?
City of Coral Springs: The parking is for students who are registered Juniors at MSD and applications are a yearly process, click here for details including the cost for parking.
Investigators are working to determine the circumstances around the incident and no arrests have been made at this time.