Several fights break out at H.D. Woodson High School; 10 students arrested

WASHINGTON - A D.C. mother wants answers after her 17-year-old daughter was hurt in a nasty fight at H.D. Woodson High School Tuesday.

The fight was recorded by another student and shows Tierra Thomas on the ground being beaten and kicked by a large group of girls.

"Somebody kicked me in my eye and someone was kicking me in my side and arm," Thomas said as she put ice on her black eye.

She said a younger girl she has had problems with in the past came up and said she wanted to fight, and then eight or nine other girls jumped in too.

"I was shocked because I never got jumped before," the 17-year-old said. "I didn't know what to do but call my mother."

When her mother, Cheryl Thomas, arrived at the school, she said she found a large police presence. A staff member at the high school told FOX 5 there were at least four fights at the school on Tuesday alone.

After another fight separate from the one Tierra was involved in, police said they arrested four female students on misdemeanor assault charges.

"I watch the news and I see people dying every day because of these kids jumping people," Cheryl said.

She didn't expect she would end up on the news herself because she said her daughter is a good student who has never been in a fight. Cheryl said her daughter was suspended for two weeks, and she plans to go back to the school Wednesday to protest that punishment and find out why no one was able to prevent her daughter from getting hurt.

"They [are] in school - why wasn't she protected?" Cheryl asked. "We just need to get together and stop all this violence."

FOX 5 reached out to D.C. Public Schools to ask if there are plans to increase security after recent violence. We have not gotten a response yet, but will follow up when we get those answers.