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5 students charged, principal injured in fight at West Port High School, officials say

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Published  August 27, 2024 8:57pm EDT
Marion County
FOX 35 Orlando

5 students charged after fight injures principal

Five students were charged, and a principal was injured during a fight that broke out at West Port High School in Ocala on Monday, according to the school district.

The Brief

    • Five students were charged after a fight broke out at West Port High School in Ocala, Florida, injuring the principal. 
    • One student was arrested and charged with felony battery on a school official, while the others received civil citations. 
    • The principal was treated at a hospital and released, while authorities emphasized zero tolerance when it comes to school safety.

OCALA, Fla. - Five students were charged, and a principal was injured during a fight that broke out at West Port High School in Ocala on Monday, according to the school district. 

The Ocala Police Department said the incident happened Monday during "Alpha time," which is when students head to class at the end of a class period. The fight stemmed from an ongoing issue between several students following a previous altercation earlier this month. 

Five female students were charged with disorderly conduct via civil citation, officials said. These citations "will turn into physical arrests if they fail to uphold the conditions to which they agreed," according to Marion County Public Schools. Civil citations are an alternative to physically arresting juveniles accused of committing first-time misdemeanor offenses. 

One of the students was physically arrested and additionally charged with felony battery on a school official, the school district said. The student, whose identity has not been released, was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice facility in Marion County. 

The principal, Ginger Cruze, was "caught in the middle of the fight" when trying to break it up, according to the school district. Cruze was treated and released from a local hospital. The extent of her injuries is unknown at this time. 

Additionally, several school deans were involved in breaking up the fight. 

The Ocala Police Department issued the following statement after the incident:

"We want to make it clear that we will not tolerate such behavior within our schools. The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, and we will continue to work with school officials and the Marion County Sheriff's Office to maintain a safe learning environment for all." 

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This is a developing story. 

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