As the school year nears its end, parents and students at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside are grappling with a violent campus incident that left two staff members and one student assaulted. Officials say the event was triggered when family members of a student involved in an earlier fight entered the school without authorization.
What Happened on Campus Tuesday
On Tuesday, May 20, a physical altercation broke out between two male students at Martin Luther King High School, according to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback. After the fight, one student contacted his family, who then trespassed onto campus, bypassing visitor check-in protocols.
The relatives located the other student and initiated a second fight. Two campus supervisors tried to intervene but were assaulted in the process, Railsback said. Although shaken, neither staff member suffered serious injuries. The student who was attacked was hospitalized, but his injuries were not life-threatening.
How the District Is Responding
In a public statement, the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) confirmed that law enforcement responded quickly and that an investigation is ongoing. “We are taking all legal steps to hold those involved in the assault and those who trespassed accountable,” the district stated.
To prevent future incidents, RUSD spokesperson Liz Pinney-Muglia announced that security on campus will be increased through the end of the school year. This includes:
- Additional campus security personnel
- Daily coordination with school resource officers and Riverside police
- Increased administrative vigilance
Community Reactions: Concern, But Not Panic
Outside the school Wednesday, parents and students shared mixed reactions. Jada Thompson, 24, said she was initially alarmed but relieved to hear her younger brother was safe. “Most days I think security’s tight. But if someone still got in, that’s a problem,” she said.
Another parent, Olivia Delgado, 39, expressed worry for her niece: “Parents drop their children off hoping and praying they’re in good hands. When something like this happens, it’s a wake-up call.”
However, junior Christopher Martinez, 17, said students were mostly unfazed. “No one was really worried about it… this is the first time anything like this has happened that I’m aware of.”
Investigation Ongoing, Safety Measures Tightened
The Riverside Police Department’s School Resource Officer Unit is leading the investigation with full cooperation from school and district administrators. Authorities have not yet announced arrests, as the involved student and family members fled the scene.
As the school community processes the incident, officials are urging calm while reinforcing campus protections.
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This article was written by John Deluca. AI was used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.
