According to reports, two girls were assaulted at a California middle school, leading to students “rioting” to watch the fight and trampling each other.
Shocking footage of the attack at a Sinaloa middle school on Friday shows a female student lying on the ground before being surrounded by three other students, who brutally punched and kicked her. KTVU reports.
Administrators later clarified that students had been told in advance when the fight would take place, and that crowds of several hundred students had swarmed the campus to watch the beating.
“As a result, hundreds of students swarmed campus and showed up in droves to watch the fight,” the letter sent to parents said.
“The mob grew in size as it ran through the campus, causing several students to fall and being literally run over by other students.”
But parents said this was not the first violent incident at the school and, while expressing their anger at the rally on Tuesday, said it was an ongoing issue that has yet to be resolved.
“Bullying has become a big issue and we want this year to address it and help kids who don’t feel safe.” parent Pam Laidley told ABC7..
Novato police said they had not been informed of the situation on campus despite having a working relationship with the school, which decided Friday to add two private security guards and additional custodial personnel.
However, according to ABC 7, the two district-wide school resource officers were not on campus during the violent melee.
Novato police arrested eight students in connection with Tuesday’s brawl, including the daughter of Melanie Sanchez, who was caught on video punching one of the girls.
Sanchez claims her daughter lost patience after the school failed to address the bullying issue, and that her attack was directed at her alleged tormentors.
“They are told they are fat, they are ugly, their hair is ugly, they get balled at every day at school,” Sanchez told the outlet.
Sanchez’s daughter and seven other students were booked into Marin County Juvenile Detention Center on conspiracy and felony assault charges.
Sinaloa Middle School did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
