7 Students Charged in Overlea HS Fights, 3 Hospitalized: Police

Seven students face charges and three were hospitalized after fights broke out Tuesday at Overlea High School around lunchtime, according to the Baltimore County Police Department.

Before noon on Tuesday, a school resource officer at Overlea High School alerted police that there were multiple fights going on in the cafeteria, according to the report.

Administrators were aware of threats made on social media and had been interviewing students about them Tuesday morning, Baltimore County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Mark Bedell told WBAL.

Even after additional officers arrived in the cafeteria, the violence continued, according to WJZ.

In an attempt to break up the fighting, an officer used pepper spray, which sent three people to the hospital, police reported. Their injuries did not appear to be serious, according to WBAL.

None of those taken to the hospital were among the students charged, Cpl. John Wachter of the Baltimore County Police Department said.

Seven students from sophomores to seniors were taken into custody, ranging in age from 16 to 19 years old, according to police. All will be charged with offenses ranging from disorderly conduct to second-degree assault, Cpl. John Wachter of the Baltimore County Police Department said.

While the cause of the disruption is still under investigation, police said it appeared related to an ongoing dispute.

An off-campus dispute last week may have been connected, according to WJZ, which said that authorities were investigating whether that was gang-related.

There will be additional police presence on campus in the coming days, according to WBAL.