CHARLOTTE — Officials with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are investigating a violent fight that occurred at West Charlotte High School.
The incident took place shortly after 2:15 p.m. in the bus lot as school was letting out, with dozens of students gathered around to watch the altercation.
The video, sent by a viewer, shows officers attempting to break up the fight while students form a circle around the scene.
At one point in the video, an officer is seen picking a student up and slamming them to the ground, after which the person appears to be hurt.
Witnesses reported hearing the sound of her body hitting the ground, with one saying, “it almost looked as if her neck was broke.”
That student was later treated and discharged from a local hospital, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.
The student’s mother, who spoke exclusively with Channel 9 reporter Jonathan Lowe, described the officer’s actions, saying, “he lifted her up almost above his head and threw her down, and then she started having a seizure.”
She also mentioned that her daughter appeared to be tased and had a knee placed on her back while the officer attempted to handcuff her.
A spokesperson with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools also released a statement addressing the incident, saying:
“We are aware of the fights that occurred at West Charlotte High School this Friday afternoon and have reviewed the video circulating online. We recognize that this footage is deeply concerning and difficult to watch.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and CMPD are actively investigating. While we are unable to share details regarding an ongoing investigation, we want to assure our community that we are taking this situation very seriously.
Every student deserves to feel safe and be safe at school. Safety of our students and staff are our top priority."
Following discussions between Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office, a criminal investigation into the officer’s response has been initiated.
CMPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau will also conduct a separate but parallel investigation.
The investigations will determine if any state laws were violated and whether department policies and procedures were followed.
The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation per standard protocol.
As the investigations continue, the officer’s actions remain under scrutiny, with the student’s mother calling for accountability, emphasizing that her daughter, “she’s only a hundred pounds, and he didn’t have to do her like that.”
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