12 Children From Roslindale School Sent To Hospital After Student Releases Pepper Spray
BOSTON (CBS) – Twelve children and one staff member were sent to the hospital Thursday morning after a student released pepper spray inside a Boston school.
It happened around 11 a.m. Thursday, at Washington Irving Middle School on Cummins Highway in Roslindale.
Police said a call came in for a smell of gas in the cafeteria.
The school was evacuated for about 30 minutes. Students were brought into the auditorium until it was safe to return to class.
"Between venting the cafeteria and utilizing their meters they were able to determine the air quality was OK in the school," said Steve McHugh, Deputy Superintendent of Boston EMS.
The students were relieved to know that everything was OK.
"It was fine because at least we were safe," said student Edgar Matthews Jr.
Boston EMS confirmed they took 12 children to hospitals in the area with what they described as minor illnesses and injuries. The students were treated and later released from the hospital.
"He's feeling OK but I want to make sure. As a parent I want to make sure, you know what I mean?" said a parent of one of the victims.
Other parents came to pick up their kids at the end of the day to check on them.
"I came here to pick him up cause I was afraid because I didn't know if the pepper spray was around the building it could affect the kids," said parent Norah Foster.
According to Boston Public Schools, the student who released the pepper spray will be disciplined.
