Student fights erupt at Tucker HS before winter break, hospitalizing one

Several physical fights between individual students and groups of students at J.R. Tucker High School Dec. 16 prompted an increased police presence at the school, with a Henrico Police officer discharging pepper spray during one incident.

A total of six fights at the high school involving more than 18 students were reported to Henrico Police throughout the day, with altercations beginning at approximately 11 a.m. At about 1 p.m., a fight occurred that resulted in an officer deploying pepper spray, with the area immediately cleared afterward. One student was seen by the school nurse and EMTs, and then was later transported to the hospital for additional care.

About two dozen additional officers responded to Tucker, joining the two regularly assigned school resource officers already present, to de-escalate the situation. There is “no indication these fights were pre-planned,” according to Henrico Police.

One juvenile male has been charged with three counts of assault and assault on a law enforcement officer, and additional charges for other students are forthcoming pending further investigation. Students also will face any additional consequences under Henrico Schools’ Code of Student Conduct.

The incidents, which occurred during lunch periods and class changes, were “separate” and “unrelated,” Tucker High Principal Art Raymond said in a message sent to families later that day. 

For the remainder of the school day, Tucker operated with “restricted movement throughout the building” during class times, he said.

“All students are safe, and class schedules are continuing as normal,” Raymond said in the Dec. 16 message. “As a precaution, students will see an increased police presence on our school campus as we work together to investigate and support orderly transitions and lunches.”

At about the same time as one of the incidents, a fire sensor was set off in the culinary instruction area, Raymond said, but subsequently was inspected by a fire marshal who found no danger.

A number of videos capturing the altercations were posted online to Instagram, racking up tens of thousands of views. One video shows a group of students physically fighting each other outside near the school building with a large horde of students surrounding them, screaming and pushing to see the altercation, with many filming using their cell phones. Several police officers and school staff intervene, trying to separate the students who are fighting and push off the surrounding students.

Another video shows two students fighting in the cafeteria, with one student flipping the other onto the ground, as a huge crowd forms shouting and cheering, with some students standing on tables or chairs to film the altercation. Two staff members try to break up the fight and are eventually able to restrain both students.

Several videos also show an altercation between two students in the main first floor hallway that leads to several police officers intervening.

In one video, a student walking down the hallway is told by someone off-camera, “Come on, you might as well just get it over with,” and responds, “I told y’all I’m not fighting ’till after school.” He is then attacked by another student and two police officers restrain both students, with the attacker being pinned to the ground by one officer.

However, the student is able to get off the ground and briefly overpower the officer by getting on top of him. A school staff member tackles the student to the ground while another officer is able to grab the student’s arms, using his leg to pin the student on the ground to handcuff him. A huge crowd of students form around the officers, with some yelling “Get off him!” as officers try to restrain the student. Staff members try to break up the crowd, yelling “Get out of here! Go to class!”

A few other videos also show fights breaking out between individual students in the boys’ bathroom, with several other students standing by watching the altercations.

As of Dec. 20, 10 different videos of the altercations posted by the Instagram account of a Tucker student had generated a combined total of more than 57,000 views and 2,200 shares. 

Other student fights at the school also were captured by videos posted to the account earlier this school year. A video posted Nov. 19 shows a physical altercation between several students in one of the school’s common areas, with staff and school security officers attempting to break up the fight and a huge crowd of students watching and shouting.

Another video posted Sept. 27 shows school security officers and a police officer breaking up a physical altercation between two female students in the hallway, with a large crowd of students watching, some encouraging one of the girls to "beat her ass."

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.