Five Sandburg Students Charged With 'Assault By Mob'

Police have charged five Carl Sandburg Middle School students with assault by mob for allegedly attacking three other male students.

Police say at around 7:30 a.m. last Tuesday morning, one group of boys, which included two 13-year-olds, one 14-year-old male, and two 15-year-olds, assaulted another group of boys outside of the school. 

Two of the victims were 14 years old, while the other was 13 years old.  They declined medical treatment. The names of the students involved have not been released because of they are minors. Police say no weapons or drugs were involved. Fairfax County Public Schools media spokesperson Mary Shaw said the incident was not gang related.

Police spokesman Don Gotthardt said the fight occurred between the two groups because of “some type of disagreement” that happened over the weekend.

Several patrol officers, including two from the Franconia police district station, were brought in to investigate the fight.

In an email to parents last Tuesday, Principal Terrence Yarborough said students were asked to remain in their classrooms, while police investigated the incident.

Fairfax County School’s Security and Fairfax County Police remained on campus until all participants had been identified and escorted from school by their parent or guardian, said Yarborough in a subsequent email to parents.

Yarborough said that school officials have taken “appropriate disciplinary actions” against the students. The school district said it would not say what the punishment was for the boys because student discipine matters are confidential. Yarborough said discipline issues had declined this year, in comparison to previous years.