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A fight between two female teenagers at a high school in Kingstree, South Carolina ended with one female unconscious—by the hands of an assistant principal. According to WCSC, the incident occurred at Kingstree Senior High School.
In a video captured by a cell phone, two female students are seen fighting each other outside of the school. Two school administrators attempted to break-up the fight, however, the female students continued to fight. One of the administrators, Mack Burgess, grabbed one of the teens by the neck with the hopes of keeping her away from the other student. But the student, 15, fell unconscious. Students yelled, “She’s out,” as Burgess laid her body on the ground.
The student’s mother, Yalonda Nesmith, was upset that her child was choked unconscious and wanted Burgess to be arrested. She filed an incident report with police and claimed that Burgess held her daughter’s neck too tight.
Police investigated the video and said it was probable cause to arrest Burgess, but a judge said there will be a a hearing where both sides and speak about the case.
The aftermath reveals how some school systems find it challenging to handle disruptive students. School administrators and teachers risk being harmed themselves when attempting to break-up fights. But on the other hand, resource officers have caught flack for being overly abusive of students who display disciplinary issues.
The Williamsburg County School District released a statement on how conflicts should be handled in their school system. “We have several programs in place to assist our students in resolving conflicts without physical contact. Our Rehabilitative Behavioral Health Specialists, Intervention Specialists, Mental Health Counselors (on-site), and Guidance Counselors work closely with students to address numerous issues throughout the year to include conflict resolution. Annually, counselors and administrators participate in Crisis Non-violence Technique Training that provides them with the knowledge needed during physical altercations.”
Burgess has not been arrested yet, but an investigation is ongoing.
