Teen Undergoes Jaw Surgery After Suitland High School Brawl

A 16-year-old boy underwent three hours of surgery Monday after trying to protect his girlfriend during a fight at Suitland High School last week.

A video posted to popular social media site Vine shows a teenage girl with balloons being beaten last Friday afternoon at the Prince George's County school. According to her mother, the girl had been at the principal's office just a day before the brawl, expressing fear for her safety and noting she had been bullied.

"At that point, the principal said she was safe; he promised nothing was going to happen to [her]," Tarneice Hinton-Mines said. "They failed. They fell asleep on the job."

Friday was the girl's birthday, which is why she was holding balloons in the video. The girl who had been bullying her threatened her, and said she would give her a present she "wouldn't forget."

Punches were thrown, and the teen's boyfriend jumped in to protect her. He was struck so violently that he underwent hours of surgery on his broken jaw Monday night. 

"He has a plate and screws and pins in his jaw," Hinton-Mines said.

The boy's aunt said she's especially upset about the beating because fellow students stood by and watched the fight -- and even recorded it -- without getting help or trying to stop it.

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"It was heart-wrenching that I have to look at a video of my nephew where somebody is putting him in a choke-hold," Joyce Conyers said.

Late Monday evening, Prince George's County Public Schools released the following statement:

"We join the community in sadness and shock following the brutal incident that was videotaped this past Friday at Suitland High School. Please be assured that the school system is taking swift and appropriate disciplinary action according to the policies outlined in our Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook."

News4 has been unable to determine whether any students will face criminal charges as a result of the incident.

In a letter sent home to parents Monday, Suitland High School's principal said he will address the fight at a regularly scheduled PTA meeting Tuesday.

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