Hercules School Investigates Fight That May Involve Transgender Teen
HERCULES (CBS SF) -- Police and school administrators are investigating a fight at Hercules High School earlier this week that may have involved a transgender student.
The fight between four 16-year-old students began around 1:42 p.m. Wednesday on the campus at 1900 Refugio Valley Road, according to Hercules police.
Police said the fight began when a male student punched a female student.
Two other female students intervened and the male student pushed one of them to the ground, police said.
One of the female students punched the male student, and campus security stepped in and broke up the fight, according to police.
Two of the students suffered minor scratches and another complained of pain to her wrist.
All four students involved in the altercation have been suspended and three have said they want to press charges for battery, according to police.
A report on the incident has been sent to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office for review.
Meanwhile, a cellphone video that captured part of the fight has made the rounds online.
Marin Trujillo, a spokesman for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, declined to comment on reports that one of the students involved in the fight may identify as transgender or that bullying was at the root of the incident.
Trujillo said the district is working with Hercules police to determine what prompted the altercation.
A police spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the incident.
Trujillo said that while "bullying is something that happens" at the district's schools, the rate of suspensions for bullying, fights, intimidation and threats has dropped by nearly 50 percent over the past two years.
"We want parents and students to know that if anyone ever feels threatened or bullied or that they are in danger in any way, they can go to the principal or a teacher and let them know," he said.
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