43 people injured in pepper spray incident at PS 219 – NBC New York

Dozens of people were injured in a pepper spray incident at a Queens school on Thursday, according to fire officials.

Authorities responded to PS 219, a middle school on Gravett Road in Kew Gardens Hills, after receiving a call about a possible incident in the cafeteria shortly before 11 a.m.

A total of 40 people with minor injuries, including 31 students, were assessed at the scene. Eight students and two adults were taken to hospital in stable condition with problems consistent with injury caused by a chemical irritant.

One teen was arrested at the school, police said. Law enforcement sources say the student in custody told police he accidentally sat on the pepper spray can. Other students told police he sprayed it intentionally, the sources said.

Further details were not immediately available.

In a subsequent statement following the incident, NYC Schools Deputy Press Secretary David Clarke said, “The safety of everyone in our school buildings is our highest priority. A pepper spray device was detonated in a school cafeteria and all affected students and staff were immediately evaluated by emergency services. We are providing additional security and support to the school community today and in the coming days and are working closely with the NYPD for follow-up actions. A reminder to parents: pepper spray and other ‘personal safety devices’ are not permitted in schools.”