Middle school students fight, 23 treated for pepper spray
MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — A deputy had to use pepper balls to break up brawls among students at a Southern California middle school.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says a school resource officer requested assistance at Landmark Middle School in Moreno Valley early Tuesday afternoon because of fighting among a crowd of students.
The department says students ignored commands to stop fighting and failed to disperse after being told the school was on lockdown.
A deputy then deployed “indirect” pepper ball saturation rounds. That typically means they are fired into the ground to release the irritant.
Firefighters treated 23 students and deputies arrested a 14-year-old girl for involvement in the disturbance.
Earlier, the school was locked down on a report of shooting. Deputies determined it was false and arrested a 13-year-old.