Both the Colleton County School District and Colleton County Sheriff’s Office are continuing their investigations into a fight in the cafeteria of Colleton County Middle School the morning of Dec. 16. According to information provided by the school district, two female middle school students were involved in an altercation at about 10:30 a.m. School staff members immediately intervened and were able to separate the two students as quickly as possible. There were no weapons involved in the altercation but one of the students sustained injuries in the altercation. Staff members began providing medical assistance to the student until a Colleton County Fire-Rescue ambulance crew arrived and took over treatment. The victim was unconscious and, fearing a head injury, the decision was made to transport her to the heliport at Colleton Medical Center and to be flown by helicopter to the pediatrics unit of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. The injured girl was treated by the pediatrics unit and returned home. The other girl was turned over to Colleton County Sheriff’s Office investigators who have charged the girl with first-degree assault and battery. Calling the incident an on-going investigation, the sheriff’s office did not provide additional details. After the school district completes its investigation, a decision on the two students will be made in accordance with the district’s Student Code of Conduct. “We are working closely with the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office as they investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with the injured student and her family,” said Sean Gruber, the school district’s coordinator of Communications and Public Information. “Violence has no place in Colleton County schools, and we all share in the responsibility for keeping our schools safe. We are committed to maintaining a positive learning environment,” he added.
