HAZELWOOD, Mo. — A Hazelwood East High School student was critically injured and hospitalized following a fight that unfolded Friday at the intersection of Norgate and Claudine drives near campus, according to the St. Louis County Police Department.
The department said on Saturday, a 15-year-old suspect was arrested and is currently being held by St. Louis County Family Court on assault charges. The identity of the suspect will not be disclosed because they are a minor.
As of Sunday, the age of the victim remained unknown.
The incident, captured in a harrowing video that has since gone viral on social media, underscored the growing concern over teen violence in the area.
James Clark, vice president of Public Safety and Community Response at the Urban League, expressed deep concern upon reviewing the footage.
"That's a glimpse into the mentality and the culture of our young people today," Clark said, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
The fight on Friday prompted a swift response from the St. Louis County Police Department. Officers arrived at the scene to find a student with critical injuries and immediately transported her to a nearby hospital.
The Hazelwood School District released a statement, referencing the tragedy and calling for community-wide responsibility in addressing the root causes of bullying and violence among youth.
This incident is part of a disturbing trend, with nearly half of American schools witnessing a rise in violent episodes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This epidemic of aggression among teens has community leaders searching for solutions.
Clark shed light on the societal pressures fueling these confrontations.
"The social pressure is to be socially dysfunctional. Who can be the loudest? Who can be the most disruptive?" he asked, highlighting the need for a shift in community values and behavior.
He and his team advocate for a comprehensive approach to combatting this violence, one that involves listening to and supporting the most vulnerable members of the community.
"Too often, we set programs based on what honor roll students want and what honor roll students need. We got to be able to go deep into the bowels of our community," he said.
The Urban League has taken strides towards this goal with initiatives like its Head Start program, aimed at low-income early childhood education, and the Reroute Program, which focuses on rehabilitating juvenile offenders.
These efforts include regular check-ins, school visits, court support, employment assistance and neighborhood engagement aimed at rebuilding and supporting at-risk families.
"To Clark, saving our youth begins (at) the root. 'St. Louis, we are doing a lot of things right. But I believe we must lower our trajectory and flood our neighborhoods with resources,'" he said.
St. Louis County Police Department North County Precinct detectives are conducting an ongoing investigation.
This is a developing story.