Pepper spray, apparently attached to a student’s key chain, went off at Whitney M. Young Jr. Community School (P.S. 15) on Stegman Street, sending 25 third grade students to the hospital.
School Board President Sudhan Thomas called the incident “benign” but that school, police, and fire officials responded in “an abundance of caution.”
An eight-year-old girl who had a container of pepper spray attached to a key chain set it off by accident, Thomas said.
The incident happened at about 11 a.m. Police officials said the spray affected about 50 kids, but only 25 were sent to local hospitals as a precaution.
The school was evacuated.
Thomas said the school board will be reviewing policies regarding the carrying of pepper spray and other self-protection devices onto school property.
