INDIAN HEAD, Md. — Students at Henry E. Lackey High School will face criminal charges after two fights in four days, one of which left a teacher needing medical attention, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
The first fight happened Monday, Oct. 5, when seven students were involved in an altercation inside the school. It began when one student was struck from behind, which set off a larger fight, according to the sheriff’s office. A teacher who stepped in to stop it was hit and received medical attention, and one student had minor injuries.
Three days later, at about 11:28 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, a fight between two students broke out in the cafeteria during lunch and grew as other students joined in. Administrators, teachers and the school resource officer broke it up, and additional officers responded to help restore order. No serious injuries were reported.
The students involved in both incidents are 14 to 16 years old. The sheriff’s office said they will be charged and will also face discipline under the Charles County Public Schools code of student conduct. It did not say how many students will be charged or with what offenses. Because the students are juveniles, their cases will go through the juvenile system, and they are not being named.
Pfc. Barry is continuing to investigate.
Part of a rough start to the year
The Lackey fights are not the first school brawls the sheriff’s office has reported this fall. On the first day of the 2026-27 school year, four students at North Point High School in Waldorf were charged after two separate fights, one of which also started with a student being punched from behind.
Lackey has also appeared repeatedly in the sheriff’s office’s school drug releases. Students there were cited for possessing THC vape devices in late August and again in September.
The sheriff’s office did not say whether any of the charges relate to the teacher who was struck.
Charles County Crime Solvers pays rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest or indictment. Tips can be made anonymously at 1-866-411-TIPS, at CharlesCountyCrimeSolvers.com or through the P3 Tips app.
