MOUNT VERNON, Wash. A 14-year-old girl was beaten unconscious on the dance floor by several other girls at a chaperoned school dance for middle school honors students, police say.
Two girls, ages 12 and 14, were arrested and police might arrest a third, Lt. Ken Bergsma said Tuesday. The two were held in the Skagit Valley Juvenile Detention facility for investigation of felony assault.
The victim, who attended Mount Baker Middle School, suffered cuts and bruises to her torso, neck and shoulder, Bergsma said. The left side of her face was scratched, and a bite mark was evident on her shoulder. She was treated at Skagit Valley Hospital and released.
No motive had been determined by Wednesday morning, and police continued to investigate, said Kevin Tate, a Mount Vernon School District spokesman.
Witnesses said the victim and the attackers had been arguing at the dance Friday night for Mount Baker and LaVenture Middle School students, at the LaVenture campus.
“When the victim turned to walk away, she was assaulted,” Bergsma said. “She fell to the ground where she was kicked numerous times.”
LaVenture Principal Tara Dowd saw students circling on the dance floor and moved in to investigate, Tate said.
“She saw a group of kids in a circle, and she thought they were break dancing, which can happen,” Tate said. When she saw that the victim was down and being attacked, Dowd broke up the fight, he added.
About 150 students attended the dance, Tate said. All had to meet academic and behavioral standards to be invited.
“To go to the dance you have to be on an honor level. Your grades have to be up and you can’t have many poor-choice slips,” he said.
Three Mount Baker Middle School students were placed on emergency expulsion after the attack, Tate said, including the girls who were arrested.
Notes were sent home Monday to parents of children at both schools.
Present at the dance were chaperones, two principals, other school employees, school security guards and a police officer, Officer Keith Linderman said. Linderman, who works as a resource officer at the two schools, wasn’t at Friday night’s dance because of a schedule conflict, but had asked another officer to attend. That officer was dealing with a trespasser when he was called to the dance floor after being alerted to the fight, Bergsma said.
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