Student, 14, killed in high school fight
A 14-year-old student died Tuesday after he was involved in a fight at high school, said police who are investigating whether the beating was gang-related.
The teen, eighth-grader Tarus DeShawn Williams, was among a group of students fighting in a restroom at Westside High School, according to investigators.
Police spokesman Sgt. Vince Higgins said authorities haven’t yet determined how many students were involved in the fight. School personnel broke up the melee and found Williams injured and unresponsive.
The student was sent to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Higgins said.
The cause of death hasn’t been determined, and police Lt. Joe Scott said there were no visible signs of trauma on the victim.
“There were no weapons involved. No other people were injured. No other students were in danger,” Higgins said.
Authorities have taken another Westside student into custody for questioning, he said.
“There is some indication there might be a gang involvement,” Higgins said. “We have our Metro Gang Unit here to investigate that angle of it.”
The city school serves nearly 670 students in grades 7-12. Students expressed dismay over Wednesday’s violence.
“That’s unacceptable — in a school anyway — we can’t learn if they’re gonna fight him over something stupid,” said student Christopher Hill, 15.
Hill said he played basketball with Williams.
“He was kind of a quiet guy and like that. It’s bad knowing that someone you know is going to be dead like that,” Hill said.
School officials said the building was temporarily locked down after the fight was discovered and parents were being allowed to take their children home before the end of classes.