15-year-old hospitalized after getting assaulted by an older teen at school, SC cops say
One teenager was taken to an area hospital and another to jail Tuesday following an assault at a high school in Columbia, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
The violent incident happened at W.J. Keenan High School, the sheriff’s department said in a news release. Keenan High is off Wilson Boulevard, in the area between Interstate 20 and Interstate 77.
At about 11 a.m., school resource officers at Keenan High were told by staff about an assault inside one of the classrooms at the Richland 1 school, according to the release. The assault involved a 15-year-old victim and a 17-year-old who would be arrested, the sheriff’s department said.
Once they got to the classroom, deputies removed the 17-year-old male, according to the release. But it was not without incident.
After being told several times to stop resisting, the 17-year-old was detained by deputies, the sheriff’s department said. At that point, the 17-year-old spat on a school administrator, prompting school officials to remove all the other students from the classroom and immediate area, according to the release.
There was no word if the school was placed on a security protocol during the incident.
Deputies learned there was a brief verbal dispute followed by the older student punching the 15-year-old several times, the sheriff’s department said.
The school nurse treated the victim inside the classroom and EMS took the 15-year-old to a local hospital with serious injuries, according to the sheriff’s department. Further information on the 15-year-old’s condition was not available.
The 17-year-old, who is not being publicly identified by The State, was charged as an adult, according to the release. The 17-year-old was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and was booked into the juvenile wing of Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center without further incident, the sheriff’s department said.
If convicted on the felony charge, the 17-year-old faces a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison, according to South Carolina law.
Information about a specific punishment the 17-year-old could face from the school and Richland 1 was not available.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
