RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — The Richland County Sheriff's Department has arrested a 16-year-old student following a fight at Lower Richland High School that left two school resource officers (SROs) hurt on Friday.
Authorities said the incident happened just after 12 p.m. at Lower Richland High School located on Lower Richland Boulevard. The sheriff's incident began when the 16-year-old student attempted to rob another at the high school. The sheriff's department said a fight followed, and the two SROs attempted to break it up.
The sheriff's department said the 16-year-old then assaulted the deputies.
"The 16-year-old struck one SRO in the face and actively resisted being detained, causing the other SRO to dislocate his shoulder," the sheriff's department said. "The SROs utilized their taser to subdue the suspect and he was placed under arrest."
The unnamed suspect was taken to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center's juvenile wing following the attack on charges of strong-armed robbery and two counts of assault on a police officer while resisting arrest.
The deputy who was hit has been released from the hospital. The other is still being treated for his shoulder injury.
A Richland One School District spokesperson said the incident involved two students in a fight outside the cafeteria during lunch. During the incident, the district said the school was locked down. The status was later changed to "hold," which requires that students stay in their location as a precaution.
In an interview with News19, R1 Superintendent Craig Witherspoon said, "We do not condone what happened and then to have an adult, SRO’s in the case, to be injured, we take this very seriously. Our code of conduct addresses that and that will be dealt with in that matter."
The sheriff's department said the incident is still under investigation.