Philadelphia police arrested two 13-year-olds from Waring Elementary school and an 18-year-old from Ben Franklin High School. They all face charges including an assault charge that is a first degree felony.
Students returned to classes today under the watchful eye of extra school security and city police patrols.
"As a parent... as any parent... here in Philadelphia, I'm concerned about violence on the streets of this city, whether they be near a school or not near a school," Mayor Michael Nutter told reporters as he dropped off his daughter Olivia for classes at Masterman this morning.
"Irresponsible behavior is irresponsible behavior," Nutter said. "No matter how many police we have, no matter how many public safety plans we have, people have to take responsibility for themselves."
Parents and teachers say there have been attacks on the subway, attacks on students going to and from school, and now an altercation outside Masterman that sent yet another student to the hospital.
Paramedics wheeled away a 17-year-old student who fell victim to a vicious attack at the corner of 17th and Spring Garden Streets, sparking a chaotic scene.
"They jumped him. They were wrestling down with the other students. They ran across the street. They were dodging traffic," said student Johari Sankofa.
Another witness who did not want to be identified said it was a case of mistaken identity over some trivial slight.
"He went like, 'Is that the boy?' and he said 'no.' A boy just walks up and says, 'Hit him anyway.' So he punches my friend in the face," he said.
Ed Green says his daughter, who was filming a project for a school play, got caught right in the middle of the melee.
"And then all of a sudden they start pushing and shoving, and then they start punching," said Green.
Police arrived on the scene and arrested three teenagers. One is an 18-year-old student at nearby Ben Franklin High. Two others are from Waring Public School.
Parents and school officials say this altercation is just the latest at the hands of students from Franklin. Veronica Joyner is the founder and Chief Administrative Officer of the Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School, which is nearby on Broad Street."One of our students was attacked by students from Franklin High School and he received three stitches under his eye because the boys jumped him," said Joyner.
Joyner says she reported the incident to the principal at Franklin, but nothing was done.
"And I am so afraid that a child is going to get killed because nothing is done," she said.
Parents also point to a rash of attacks on the Broad Street Subway, which also has them concerned. Some parents and teachers escorted some Masterman students to the subway because they feared for their safety.
"There's an officer down there. We told him to look out for you guys. I didn't want him to think you all are gone," said one parent.
Both parents and teachers say the city needs to do something to address the increasing violence here along the Spring Garden and Broad Street areas.
"What I want the city to do is to protect these kids coming and going to and from school. That's what I want. That's what I want the city to do," said Green.
The district says this was an unusual flare up for the school, and they don't expect any repeat trouble.