Michelle Basch, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – A video that’s gone viral shows an unusual fight outside a Howard County school, and now charges have been filed in connection to the incident.
Classes were letting out Wednesday at Long Reach High School in Columbia when a man walked up who, “put a ski mask on as he approached the school and accosted one of the students,” says Howard County Schools Spokeswoman Patti Caplan.
Caplan says the man took a swing at the boy and missed. Then the boy, a junior football player, defended himself.
“He connected with a punch and he actually knocked the guy out cold,” says Caplan.
Caplan says it appears the man came to the school to defend a freshman girl who had been taunted.
“I would not characterize what was going on as bullying in any sense of the word,” Caplan says.
A girl can also be seen in the video fighting, and Howard County Police say the 15 year old girl has been charged with assault.
Police say the man in the ski mask will be charged soon with assault and disorderly conduct. In addition, he will be banned from the school.
There are no plans at this time to file charges against the junior who punched the man.
Police say they’re still trying to determine the relationship between the man and the girl he was apparently trying to settle a score for.
Police have stepped up their presence near the school, and will continue to do so until they’re confident things have simmered down.
Click to see a video of the fight.
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