2 Hoke County High teachers hurt after breaking up fight
Two teachers at Hoke County High School were taken to the hospital after multiple fights occurred at the school on Monday.
Hoke County Schools confirmed that two fights and another minor scuffle happened on campus. Hoke County Interim Superintendent Rodney Shotwell said one fight started in a bathroom and another fight took place outside the media center near the student parking lot. The fights were not connected.
Shotwell said two teachers were said to have "cuts and bruises" and were taken to a hospital as a precaution. They are expected to be OK. One of the teachers fell down while intervening.
Video sent to WRAL News showed footage of the fights. Shotwell expects 8 to 10 students to go through the disciplinary process.
The fight is believed to be linked to disagreements that occurred over the weekend.
"This is a carryover from something that was happening over the weekend," Shotwell told WRAL News. "Unfortunately, being a former high school principal myself, a lot of times on Monday you’re dealing with the things that happened out Saturday and Sunday out in the community when they come back to school."
Shotwell provided more details in a message to parents.
"Several students were involved in a fight on campus. Administration, staff, and SROs responded and broke up the fight quickly. While intervening to stop the fight, two of our staff members sustained minor injuries and as a precaution, were taken by EMS to the hospital. Administration along with Hoke County law enforcement is investigating the incident and appropriate disciplinary and possible legal action will be taken."
Shotwell said there will be extra law enforcement presence for the rest of Monday at school. No weapons were used in the fights. There is no word on possible charges.
Footage of the fights circulated throughout the student body on social media.
"When you go online and you look at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, when people put up negative stories, they create a life of their own," Shotwell said.
About 2,100 students attend the school.
