Girl hospitalized with critical injuries from fight near high school, police say

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) - A girl was critically injured in a fight Friday near a Missouri high school.

The fight happened Friday before 2:30 p.m., near the intersection of Norgate and Claudine drives, just a few blocks from Hazelwood East High School.

Officers said they found a girl with a severe head injury. She was taken to the hospital and remained in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon.

A 15-year-old girl was arrested Saturday and charged with assault in the incident. She was taken to the St. Louis County Family Court and remained in custody as of Sunday afternoon.

A neighbor caught video of the crowd beginning to gather Friday afternoon, just after the school day ended.

Several videos shared on social media captured the fight. The videos show several people fighting, and one girl repeatedly slams another girl’s head on the street. The girl was left lying in the road.

St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell retweeted video of the fight, calling it “sickening” and “difficult to watch.” He said by law his office has no jurisdiction currently. “This is a juvenile court matter,” he said, “unless it is certified, and by law, certification is not our decision either.”

Some neighbors who did not want to be identified out of fear of retaliation said adults were present at that fight and many more people need to be charged.

The Hazelwood School District posted a statement on social media offering condolences to the victims and families.

“It is a tragedy anytime children are hurt,” the statement reads. “Bullying and fighting in the community is an issue for which we all need to take ownership and work towards a resolution for the sake of our children. The Hazelwood School District offers our sincerest condolences to everyone involved and will offer additional emotional support from our support and crisis team to those in need.”

“We look forward to continuing to partner with our community for the sake of our children. Please be kind and respectful of the families involved during this difficult time and pledge to help work toward the betterment of our entire community,” the district said.

Copyright 2024 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.