Parent and student react to Wednesday’s incident at Bennett High School
Five people were charged after a brawl broke out at Bennett High School Wednesday morning. According to Wicomico County school officials, three students got into an argument, which led to the involvement of three other students.
The school resource office reportedly used pepper spray to break up the fight and gain control of the situation. Many students were picked up from school following the incident, one parent even saying she wants to pull her daughter from Bennett and transfer her to another school.
47 ABC was on scene and spoke to 10th grade student Nyki Goff, who was right in the middle of all the chaos when it happened.
"It was pretty scary. I was in the hallway when it first broke out and they just started fighting and cops started coming into school and I just ran to class because it got scary," Nyki said. "People were just hitting each other this one girl got hit in the face, got punched in the eye and she started crying. This is not the first time this has happened."
Nyki's mother Carrie agrees. She tells 47 ABC, "It's gotten crazy and like she said, this is the second time I've had to come up here."
Wicomico County Superintendent D. Donna Hanlin held a press conference on Wednesday addressing the incident. While she didn't comment specifically on past incidents, Dr. Hanlin says incidents are actually down this year at the school. Still Carrie Goff says she's concerned.
Goff tells 47 ABC, "I shouldn't have to worry about my child going to school and worrying about some kid having a gun, and when I pulled up today and I saw that, that's the first thing that comes to my mind. No parent should have to worry about that. I'm thankful to God my child is safe."
As far as how Nyki feels about returning to school? She says, "Scared for the school environment because you get sent to school and you have to get sent home because of all of this chaos going on."
Dr. Hanlin adds that on Thursday there will be extra staff on hand to ensure safety. In addition another school resource officer will be there to assure the school day starts smoothly.
As far as what Dr. Hanlin has to say about the incident, she tells 47 ABC, "I think under the circumstances it was handled very quickly and again I really appreciate the strong support of the sheriffs office and other law enforcement who responded and came to the assistance of the school. I believe it is a safe school I know it's a safe school. I would encourage any parents who have concerns about what's happening at the school to go talk to school administration."
According to the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, all 5 students involved in Wednesday's fight were boys, four of them were 16 years old and the other 15 years old. We've learned that all 5 of them have been charged. The investigation is ongoing.
