Fighting students charged

Boy gains broken jaw, felony charge in high school scuffle, police say

Date published: 10/5/2005

By KEITH EPPS

A 14-year-old Massaponax High School student picked up a broken jaw and a couple of criminal charges during a fight in a school hallway, authorities say.

The injured boy is charged with disorderly conduct and possession of a weapon on school property, said Spotsylvania sheriff's Deputy Robin Kocher. The boy is accused of displaying a knife during Friday's scuffle.

Kocher said the boy chased his adversary with the knife after being pummeled. The knife did not cause any injuries, she said.

The second accused combatant, another 14-year-old boy, was charged with malicious wounding and taken into custody following the bloody incident.

The boys are not being identified because they are minors.

According to Kocher, the fight took place about 11 a.m., in a hallway outside a restroom. The boy accused of carrying a knife reportedly told some of his peers he was going to hurt the other boy. The reason for the conflict remained unclear yesterday.

Students gathered around the second boy as he waited for the other to come out of the restroom.

Kocher said he asked the boy if he had a knife, then punched him in the face when he replied that he did. The first boy was knocked to the ground and punched multiple times, witnesses said.

Kocher said he suffered a broken jaw, then pulled the knife out of his pocket, yelled an expletive at the other boy and chased him down the hall with the knife.

Kocher said numerous students were watching the altercation by this point.

School Resource Officer Katherine M. Higgins investigated and filed charges against both boys.

The injured boy was taken to Mary Washington Hospital. The second boy was taken to the Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center.

Kocher said both boys will probably be expelled from the school.

To reach KEITH EPPS:540/374-5404kepps@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 10/5/2005