Suitland High School parents gathered Tuesday evening to demand answers from school officials, just a few days after a teen's jaw was broken in a violent hallway brawl.
The 16-year-old boy was attempting to protect his girlfriend who was being bullied and beaten by another teenager Friday, when punches were thrown his way. The incident was filmed by students and posted to social media.
The boy underwent three hours of surgery Monday night, which included the installation of plates, screws and pins. Criminal charges have been filed.
A previously scheduled PTSA meeting was held Tuesday evening, but the subject matter didn't shift from Friday's fight.
Nearly 100 parents demanded answers from Suitland High School principal Nate Newman, who has in the past been credited with making positive academic strides at Suitland High School.
"It's apparent to me that you guys aren't visible in the school," one parent said.
Tarneice Hinton-Mines said her teenage daughter talked to Newman about being bullied last week prior to the fight. Hinton-Mines said Newman had ensured her her child would be safe.
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"At that point, the principal said she was safe; he promised nothing was going to happen to [her]," Hinton-Mines said. "They failed. They fell asleep on the job."
Prince George's County Public Schools officials didn't allow Newman to be interviewed by News4 Tuesday.
"So the process was followed here," PGCPS Assistant Superintendant Sito Narcisse said. "The issue is that we have to communicate and work through those processes as a whole."
Many students also attended the meeting and expressed disappointment the fight happened in the first place.
"Not a lot of people come to peer mediators to talk because they're scared, but it does make us want to reach out more to the students," student Sheqwana Wooldridge said.
Newman told parents an additional school resource police officer and an additional security officer will be sent to the high school for extra precaution.
