Dramatic High School Brawl Between Student and Staffer Sparked by Cellphone, Footage Goes Viral on Social Media

Staff Member & Student Brawl In High School Cafeteria

Chaos erupted in a high school cafeteria Wednesday when an exchange between a staff member and student escalated to physical violence.

Several students recorded portions of the brawl, which broke out during lunchtime Wednesday at Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The dramatic skirmish between the adult and 17-year-old girl led to the arrest of the student, who is being charged with two felonies: attempted robbery by sudden snatching and battery of a school official.

The recording begins as a large crowd of students in the cafeteria surround a woman wearing a purple shirt with black pants, grappling with a female student in a white t-shirt and jeans. Students appear to be pulling the student off of the staff member in purple. Other students are dragging the staff member backwards while she continues to kick toward the girl.

The crowd continues to swell after the fight seems to be broken up. The student walks away as the staff member scans the room. When she spots the student, she pushes bystanders away, reaching to grab the girl by the hair. The girl swings a fist toward the staff member and the two tussle until they are again pulled apart by onlookers.

At the video's conclusion, the disheveled staff member repeats that she needs to find her phone. School officials confirmed with the Tallahassee Democrat that the fight did not continue after that point.

The Tallahassee Democrat obtained Principal Jennifer Tibbitts' message to parents sent through the school system's communication portal the following day.

"Today at lunch there was an incident involving a student and staff member," the e-mail begins. "Other school staff and our school resource officers responded immediately. This incident is being investigated by Leon County Sheriff's office and will be handled accordingly."

In addition to the felony charges, the girl faces student discipline up to expulsion. The investigation remains ongoing.