UPDATE: Students Sent to Hospital Following Exposure to Pepper Spray

UPDATED 12.4.17 Below is the letter to the Seneca Valley High School Community from MCPS officials:

“Good Afternoon Seneca Valley Community,

“This morning during the latter part of our lunch hour, a student reported a strong smell in one of our hallways that we believe to have been pepper spray.

“Out of an abundance of caution, the building was evacuated at approximately 12:10 p.m. and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) was called to the scene.

“They performed a full and complete scan of the building, during which they identified a girl’s bathroom in the math wing as the area of concern.

“Building Services cleaned the area thoroughly, and it was then inspected again by MCFRS.

“We were given the go ahead to re-enter the building at approximately 1:00 pm. Ten students and two staff members experienced some level of respiratory distress and were transported to local hospitals for care.  All are reported to be in good health.”

Original: At least 10 students from Seneca Valley High School were sent to local hospitals after exposure to pepper spray in the halls, according to a spokesperson from Montgomery County Police Department.

Montgomery County’s Fire and Rescue Services responded to the school early Monday after a fire alarm went off, according to a tweet from MCFRS spokesperson, Pete Piringer.

Update – Seneca Valley HS, MAB722 (Medical Ambulance Bus) responding to assist w/ multiple students exposed to possible pepper spray, EMS evaluating ~10 patients all w/ NLT injuries, bldg partially evacuated https://t.co/uKoQNAxGGp

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 4, 2017

School is expected to resume and MyMCMedia will have more updates as this story develops.

Update- 19400blk Crystal Rock Dr, Seneca Valley HS, school to be re-occupied after an evacuation (due to pepper spray discharge), EMS evaluated ~dozen students & transported 10, all NLT

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 4, 2017

About Mitti Hicks

Mitti Hicks is a multimedia journalist and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She is passionate about telling stories that impact our community and may be reached at MHicks@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter @mittimegan.

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