St. Louis Park High School students were briefly ordered to shelter in place at the end of the school day Wednesday after a fight involving students broke out at a nearby McDonald’s.
Video of the incident at the McDonald’s shows at least five people fighting while one person attempts to break up the brawl. One person involved in the altercation was wearing a t-shirt from the Minnesota Freedom Fund, an organization that has been responsible for bailing violent offenders out of jail.
Reportedly St. Louis Park McDonalds Wednesday afternoon/today. pic.twitter.com/Tqn5cMxjQm
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) May 31, 2023
The incident occurred approximately half an hour before the end of the school day on Wednesday.
According to the school, some individuals involved returned to the high school, and police then “responded to the situation.”
To ensure the safety of students, the high school implemented a stay-in-place protocol during the last 15 minutes of the school day, the school said in an email to families.
Here’s more from violent MN Freedom Fund chick.
Hey, @MNFreedomFund, get that bail money ready. pic.twitter.com/xYwU9YZmW3
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 1, 2023
This decision was made to limit student transitions while law enforcement officials addressed the situation. During dismissal, students may have noticed the presence of multiple police vehicles and officers at the high school, the school explained.
The statement emphasized the school’s commitment to fostering a safe and welcoming environment for all students. “We take pride in building a school culture where students can feel safe and welcome,” the school said.
St. Louis Park High School has implemented various strategies to address inappropriate behaviors on campus, including physical altercations, the statement said. The administration also stressed that “serious consequences” await any student who violates the school’s expectations.
The school refrained from providing additional details about the incident, citing the privacy of the students involved.
“Thank you for your continued partnership in helping to make our learning environment safe and welcoming for each and every student. Your support of our school is very much appreciated,” the statement concluded.
The fight was just one of multiple school safety incidents across the metro this week. Sandburg Middle School in Golden Valley was placed on lockdown Thursday after a student was stabbed outside. That same day, Maple Grove Middle School was evacuated due to a bomb threat.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
