12 students hospitalized after pepper spray incident at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, officials say – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports
POMPANO BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) – A pepper spray incident inside a classroom at Blanche Ely High School sent 12 students to the hospital, according to officials.
Pompano Beach Fire Rescue officials said crews responded around noon on Thursday after pepper spray was discharged during an argument between two students.
Twelve students were transported to Broward Health North, all in stable condition.
Students said a fight nearly broke out when one girl pulled out pepper spray. “They was finna jump her so she pepper sprayed them,” one student said.
Another added, “I think she meant to aim for the girl specifically but everybody got hit in the crossfire.”
The school briefly went into lockdown, but officials clarified it was unrelated to the pepper spray.
“Parents showed up and one of the parents was not following the direction of staff and tried to go on campus without permission, so they put the school on a brief lockdown while they dealt with that situation,” said Broward Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn.
District policy allows students to carry up to two ounces of pepper spray on campus, but they cannot remove it from their bags or use it.
“You need to talk to your parents, talk to your school administrators, talk to somebody on campus for help before you decide to take matters into your own hands,” Hepburn said. “This is an example of not talking to an adult, either your parents or school staff and taking matters into your own hands.”
Hepburn said the student who discharged the spray will face disciplinary action.
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
