Video Captures Fight Between Edison Student, Adult

Two adults broke school policy by entering a high school through a side door, then, one of them got in a fight with a 15-year-old student as bystanders capture the brawl on camera.

District leaders say the fight happened Wednesday afternoon at Tulsa’s Edison Preparatory High School, right around when school was getting out.

But how it was able to even happen has some students concerned.

The fight between an 18-year-old non-student and a 15-year-old Edison student was captured on Snapchat as it unfolded inside the school this week.

Student Stefone Richardson said, "Just in seconds, people were just showing and showing, 'You see this? You see that? You see this fight? You see all that?' It was just going viral."

TPS leaders say two adults - who are step-father and step-sister to a 16-year-old Edison student - walked into the school around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.

Officials say the two adults entered the school through a side door that they say was secure. However, they believe it might have been opened by a student who was exiting the school.

"Terrifying,” Richardson said. “That means anybody could walk in the building just like that."

The district doesn't know what started the fight, and students said the whole thing was shocking.

Marty: "When you saw the videos on Snapchat, what did you think?"
Richardson: "It was unbelievable how I saw a grown person coming into our school just fighting with a teenager. It's crazy."

In the videos, you can see hair extensions ripped out and thrown to the ground and school staff steps in to break up the fight.

"It was kind of crazy.  It was something that I'd never seen like before," said Richardson.

In a message to parents, Edison principal Dixie Speer said:

“On Wednesday, Sept. 14, there was an incident at our school involving a 15-year-old Edison student and an 18-year-old female non-student. After school dismissal, an adult male and an 18-year-old female entered Edison through a side door. These adults were the step-father and sister of a 16-year-old Edison student. This door was locked from the outside, but as this incident took place after dismissal time; students would have been exiting the building creating an unwelcomed opportunity for these adults to enter the building.

“Relatives of students are permitted on campus but are required to check-in at the school's main entrance.

“The 18-year-old female got into a physical altercation with a 15-year-old student around 3:45. School staff and administrators intervened to separate and diffuse the situation. On-site Campus Police took statements. There were no reported injuries and no need for further support. Action will be taken against the adults who failed to enter the building in accordance with school protocol. Since the incident, we have also taken steps to ensure that the location of the altercation is physically secured and staffed.

“I want to assure you that incidents of this kind are incredibly unusual for Edison. We take building security very seriously, and are committed to ensuring that our school continues to be a safe place for our students, teachers, and staff. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

Richardson said, "There should be more security guards and more on the lookout for stuff like that."

District leaders said the incident is under investigation and that the adults could be banned from the school grounds.

So far, no charges have filed.

The district said campus security is working to ensure all non-primary doors are secured moving forward, and they now have someone physically monitoring the area of the altercation.

TPS also released a statement regarding the altercation, saying:

“On Wednesday, Sept. 14, there was an incident at Edison Preparatory School involving a 15-year-old Edison student and an 18-year-old female non-student. At approximately 3:30pm, an adult male and an 18-year-old female entered Edison through a side door. These adults were the step-father and sister of a 16-year-old Edison student. This door was locked from the outside, but as this incident took place after dismissal time, students would have been exiting through it. Relatives of students are permitted on campus but are required to check-in at the school's main entrance. We believe that these two relatives entered the building as a student was exiting through this side door.

“The 18-year-old female got into a physical altercation with a 15-year-old student. School staff and administrators intervened to separate them and called Campus Police to the scene of the incident. No injuries were reported and no arrests were made. However, this incident is still under investigation and the school team is determining any appropriate consequences or next steps. This may include banning the adults involved from the school and grounds. The safety of our students and staff is a priority for Tulsa Public Schools, and Campus Police are working with the site team to ensure that all non-primary entrances are secured moving forward. Since the incident, the school has also taken steps to ensure that the location of the altercation is physically secured and staffed.”