Student injured in brawl at Dunbar High School involving members of football team, parent says

Dunbar High School mother 'furious' after son attacked by football players

A mother is furious and heartbroken after she says her 15-year-old son was attacked by members of Dunbar High School's football team this week. Those teens won't be playing in Friday night's football game against Eastern. FOX 5's Stephanie Ramirez has the story from outside Dunbar High School.

WASHINGTON - A Dunbar High School senior dance planned for Saturday has now been postponed as a result of a fight at the school on Thursday involving multiple Dunbar High School football players, according to a D.C. Public Schools spokesperson.

D.C. police and DCPS confirm an altercation took place just outside the Northwest-based high school's entrance at around dismissal time on Thursday, Oct. 26th.

The presence of security and staff did not deter the violence from breaking out.

A D.C. mother, who says her 15-year-old was attacked in that altercation, was both furious and heartbroken when she spoke with FOX 5.

She’s calling for the head of the high school’s athletics department to resign over the altercation.

"He called me yesterday and stated that the football team is a brotherhood, and they don’t know my son, like he’s justifying that – for me to get the only call – that the school never ever called me or anything, that’s the only call I received. With my son feeling as though he was going to die – and this is what he told me is unacceptable," said the 15-year-old’s mother, who asked not to be identified. "The culture needs to change. It’s a good school, but the culture needs to change."

Video shared with FOX 5 shows a violent assault with school security standing nearby. FOX 5 was also told a Dunbar High School dean was injured trying to break up the fight.

A DCPS spokesperson confirms at least 11 students were identified as being involved. About eight of the 11 students involved are Dunbar football players, with six of the eight identified as being Dunbar Varsity Football players.

"At D.C. Public Schools (DCPS), it is the expectation of the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) that our student-athletes are leaders of character both on and off the field," said DCPS Communications Chief Kera Tyler in a statement sent to FOX 5. "It is essential that student-athlete behavior and conduct reflect respect for their peers and their school community. Following Chapter 25 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations (DCMR) and DCIAA policy, any Dunbar High School athletes found to have engaged in yesterday’s physical altercation are suspended from participating in tonight’s football game against Eastern High School."

DCPS also noted, with over 50 players on Dunbar High School’s Varity Team, most of the players were not involved, and were doing what they were supposed to be doing.

The mother involved feels the game should have been suspended as well.

"We need safety for our children in the school," she said. "The staff is not making sure our kids are safe. There’s no reason for the whole football team to be disrespecting the staff while the staff was there and continue to jump and beat my son."

"I don’t want this to happen to anyone’s child," she added.

FOX 5 was also told a second student was assaulted.

School leaders did not share what they thought was behind the fight. The family involved believes it has to do with a previous incident regarding harassment of the 15-year-old’s sibling.

The teen's mother told FOX 5 she did meet with Dunbar's principal on Friday.

The Attorney General’s Office did not answer our questions on whether charges could be filed, citing juvenile privacy laws.

A letter shared with the Dunbar High School community on Friday reads:

Dear Dunbar High School Parents and Families,

At Dunbar, we are committed to ensuring a safe and secure learning environment for students. Communicating home about incidents that occur during the school day and impact our community is critical to maintaining strong partnerships with families.

During yesterday’s dismissal, a physical altercation took place in front of our building involving multiple students. Dunbar staff and contract security officers quickly worked to de-escalate and separate students who were fighting. Following security protocols, staff also called the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). MPD arrived quickly, but the students involved had already dispersed and departed school grounds.

Administrators have worked with staff to review surveillance footage and identify students. We are connecting with families on disciplinary action in accordance with Chapter 25 of the DC Municipal Regulations (DCMR) and the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) as applicable. Our school security and operations teams are aware of this incident as well and will continue to follow proper reporting and follow-up protocols. In addition, our behavioral support and wellness teams will continue to work with all students as we emphasize the importance of nonviolence and positive conflict resolution here at Dunbar.

We are also aware that videos of this incident and other threats are circulating on social media. Threats made against our school or student body are taken very seriously by DC Public Schools (DCPS) Police and MPD. Officers will be on site this afternoon to support during dismissal to ensure the safety of our school community.

If you have any questions, please call the school office at (202) 698-3762 or email me at nadine.smith@k12.dc.gov.

Sincerely,

Nadine Smith

Principal, Dunbar High School