Fight At Middle School In Enid Sends One Student To Hospital

Deanne Stein, News 9

ENID, Oklahoma -- A fight between two students at a middle school in Enid sends one student to the hospital.

According to Shawn Hine, the superintendent of Enid Public Schools, on Tuesday, April 24, two students at Longfellow Middle School got into a verbal argument during lunch recess. Hine said the argument turned physical and that a teacher supervising the playground broke up the fight.

"Nothing is more important than the safety of our students," said Hine. "The EPS Police Department is investigating the situation and legal charges are pending. Our thoughts and prayers are with the student as he recovers from his injuries."

An incident report filed by Enid Campus Police stated the student was unconscious and suffered broken bones, severe lacerations and possible internal injuries. The incident report also stated that officers interviewed the boy responsible. According to this student, he said he accidentally bumped into the victim. He said the victim then yelled a derogatory comment and pushed him. The fight continued and the student said he then punched the victim in the face and then continued to hit him when he was down until the teacher broke it up.

Police and the school are not releasing the names of the students, but family friends have identified the boy injured as 14-year-old Preston Hodge and said the boy is scheduled to have surgery at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Jeff Rust, a friend of the family, has set up a fund to help the family with medical expenses. Rust also posted a picture of Preston on Facebook, which was sent to him from the family.

"I wanted people to see the effect of bullying in schools and having a daughter in junior high it really hit home," said Rust.

The fund is set up at Alva State Bank and Trust located at 801 W. Broadway in Enid under the name "Preston Hodge."

"Something has to be done to stop the cruelty of this," said Rust. "Fighting does not solve any situation."

The other student involved in the fight could face aggravated battery charges.