Violent fights at Doss High School in Louisville escalate as staff struggles to maintain order

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A newly surfaced video from Doss High School reveals another violent fight breaking out among students, further highlighting the ongoing safety concerns within the school.

The footage shows a chaotic scene in which one student is repeatedly punched and kicked while a staff member attempts to intervene alone.

A Jefferson County Public Schools employee, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, shared a grim assessment of the situation.

"These kids aren't just trying to fight each other," the employee said. "They actually want to hurt each other, to the point where they talk about killing. It's not safe. There aren't enough staff members to handle 1,300 students when seven or eight fights break out at the same time."

The latest round of altercations happened Feb. 3, prompting a letter from Doss High School officials to parents.

"This afternoon during lunch, some students engaged in fighting. While that altercation was quickly broken up, other incidents began to pop up with other groups of students fighting," the statement read. "Staff broke up the fights and JCPS Police were called. While there did not appear to be any serious injuries to staff or students, one student was taken to the hospital via EMS as a precaution."

This is not the first time violence at Doss has gained attention. In September, similar videos surfaced showing brutal fights that had been recorded and shared on social media, with some students choosing to film rather than seek help. Reports at that time indicated as many as 10 to 12 fights occurred in a single day.

"I have anxiety every day," the JCPS employee said, describing the impact the environment has on staff. "It's not JCPS' fault entirely, but there's a solution. They need more staff, better control over these students, and parents need to be held accountable."

According to sources within the school, many of the fights involve the same students or groups of students who are suspended briefly and then return to campus.

"Start holding the parents accountable," the employee said. "It's not just the school's responsibility. Parents need to be involved in their kids' lives."

The underlying tensions fueling the fights are reportedly linked to gang and neighborhood rivalries. New school boundary lines have forced students from competing neighborhoods into Doss, further exacerbating conflicts.

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