BOSTON (WHDH) - Twelve students and one staffer were taken to the hospital following an incident involving pepper spray at a middle school in Roslindale on Thursday morning.
Emergency crews responding to the incident at Washington Irving Middle School at 105 Cummins Highway after 11 a.m. transported the students to the hospital, officials said.
Investigators determined a student sprayed pepper spray in the cafeteria, prompting the building to be evacuated for more than 30 minutes.
Seventh-grader Gabriel Guzman said he saw his friends coughing and heard them complaining of sore throats.
Video from Sky7 HD showed dozens of students being ushered out of the building.
Classes later resumed after crews swept the building checked the air quality.
Several parents rushed to the school to check on their kids. Some opting to take them home early.
“What do you need pepper spray for in a school,” Father Ariel Guzman asked. “How is he getting his hands on this stuff? I thought you would need a gun permit or something.”
All 12 people have been treated and released from local hospitals.
“BPS cannot comment on whether or not the student who sprayed the pepper spray will face criminal charges, but as always we work closely with Boston Police. BPS focuses on providing students counseling and intervention, and would issue any discipline in accordance with the district’s Code of Conduct,” according to a statement released by the district.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS for updates online and on-air.
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