Students at Lexington middle school moved to gym due to pepper spray in hallway
Students at Morton Middle School had to relocate to the school’s gymnasium Monday morning due to irritations from pepper spray, according to a letter from Principal Twanjua Jones sent to school parents.
The pepper spray was deployed by a student in the seventh grade hallway, Jones said in the letter obtained by the Herald-Leader, which was sent out shortly before 10 a.m.
Jones said the building is being ventilated by the Lexington Fire Department. She hoped students would return to classrooms within the hour.
“We ask that you do not come to our campus as safety officials are working to clear the building,” Jones said in the letter. “Students are safe and waiting in the gym until our building is cleared by Lexington Fire Department officials.”
Later in the day, Jones sent an email to families saying at 8:53 a.m. in the seventh-grade hallway, a student sprayed mace or pepper spray into the air. The student brought this item from home. A few students in the direct vicinity of the spray experienced mild irritation and were evaluated by the Lexington Fire Department, the email said..
All students involved in the incident have been identified. Appropriate disciplinary processes have been initiated, the letter to families said.
Jones said this semester, several pranks and incidents threatened school safety and caused concern in the school community.
Derek Roberts, a district chief with the Lexington fire, said the fire department responded to the school for a report of difficulty breathing. No one was transported to a hospital while the fire department was on scene.
This story may be updated.
This story was originally published March 11, 2024 at 11:28 AM.
