Oak Lawn student stabbed with scissors during fight at high school
WARNING: Graphic video
OAK LAWN, Ill. (WLS) -- A student was stabbed with scissors Monday during a fight at Oak Lawn Community High School in southwest suburban Oak Lawn, the school district confirmed.
Destinee Garza, the injured student, sustained laceration injuries to the arms, neck and forehead. Seen in the video in a black t-shirt and shorts, she said she was attacked.
"I felt something, but... it didn't feel like a punch," she said, speaking exclusively with ABC7 Eyewitness News.
It wasn't.
"She just kept stabbing me, I guess. I didn't know she had the scissors in her hand at all," Destinee said.
"That girl showed no remorse. She was out to kill my child," said Barbara Garza, mother of the victim.
RAW VIDEO: Graphic Content
Video on social media shows the hallway brawl, surrounded by swarms of students rolling on their cell phones. It was a student, not a school staff member, who stepped in and pried the scissors from the other girl's hands.
"I have a lot of punctures all over my body, all over my shoulders right here," Destinee said.
"And on top of it no one came to save my daughter when she should be safe. Nobody was there. Nobody," Barbara said.
The fight involved two female students, lasted 35 seconds and resulted in the arrest of one of the students, according to the school district. "We will utilize appropriate school procedures to ensure each student's due process rights are provided, and then we will determine what school consequences will be issued," the statement said in part.
The girl with the scissors fled the school after the fight, but was arrested by Oak Lawn police later in the day.
Oak Lawn Police Department officials said they could not comment on the incident because it involved minors, but did confirm that the aggressor will be "petitioned to Juvenile Court" on an aggravated battery charge.
"That girl showed no remorse. She was out to kill my child. They're handling it as if it's just another fight," Barbara said.
The fight broke out at about 11 a.m. in the school hallway during passing time.
The Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 that serves sections of Bridgeview, Chicago Ridge, Oak Lawn, and all of Hometown.
In a statement to ABC7, a school district spokesman said: "We have very high expectations, both academically and behaviorally for our students at Oak Lawn Community High School. It is part of our school's mission to provide a safe and secure learning environment for our students, which is why we are so disappointed by the actions of these individuals. We will utilize appropriate school procedures to ensure each student's due process rights are provided, and we will then determine what school consequences will be issued. These consequences may include external suspension and referral to the Board of Education for expulsion."
