Wekiva High School students treated for pepper spray exposure

Fire rescue treats 25 patients for exposure

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County Fire Rescue officials said they treated more than two dozen students for pepper spray exposure Monday at Wekiva High School.

Emergency medical services treated 25 students for pepper spray exposure. No one was seriously injured, fire rescue officials said.

Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Office said three girls between the ages of 15 and 17 were fighting when pepper spray was used. Two of the girls involved in the fight will be charged with aggravated battery, according to a news release.

Monday afternoon, Wekiva High School Principal Michelle Erickson sent an automated message to parents and the campus community.

"I want to make you aware of a physical altercation that occurred today on campus involving three students. Two of those students were in possession of pepper spray and deployed the spray," Erickson said.

Officials said that authorities and school administrators are investigating the incident.

“The appropriate discipline will be handed out in according the code of student conduct," Erickson said. 

The consequences could include suspension or expulsion.

Atwinda Elisala rushed over to Wekiva High to make sure her son was OK. She got emotional talking about how things could have been much worse.

"I’m very happy my son is safe. It’s a scary thing. I never know when I send him is it going to be a gun next time or a knife or somebody else," Elisala said.

She said she wants to see some safety changes.

"Maybe get volunteers over here or more police or more security," Elisala said.


About the Author:

Jerry Askin is an Atlanta native who came to News 6 in March 2018 with an extensive background in breaking news.

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