VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. -- A teenager is under arrest in connection with a violent attack and rape that police said happened inside Pine Ridge High School in Deltona.

The principal calls it a tragedy and students said word of the crime, and now the arrest that happened right around midnight, spread quickly through the halls of the school.

"I was just surprised by it, taking her in the bathroom and everything. A 16-year-old kid doing that. It's just crazy," said Pine Ridge senior Aaron Koref.

As students left school on Valentines Day, they were shocked by the story of a violent encounter between a two sophomores.

"Very serious about these kinds of problems, to know it happened in my school is just kind of scary," said student Greg Nutt.

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Investigators said the rape happened in a boy’s bathroom, far enough from students and staff that the girl’s screams could not be heard. But their best piece of evidence seems to be a surveillance video that shows 16-year-old Arhmah Gathers pulling the 16-year-old girl into the bathroom. He told detectives that the two only kissed.

"This situation is tragic and should not have happened and we're very concerned about it. But our utmost concern is for the safety and welfare of our students," said Principal Mike Mongelli.

The victim told detectives she considered Gathers a friend, until he approached her early Tuesday afternoon, suggesting the two have sex, and then allegedly pulling her into the bathroom. The victim waited until she got home to report the crime to her parents.

Wednesday, Eyewitness News got no answer at the home where the arrest was made late Tuesday night.

Female students are left to ponder their safety at school.

"Anything can happen. It kind of scares me to come to school now," said student Stephanie Howard. "How could no one see this? How could not one person see this happen to her, see her being dragged?"

Gathers is believed to be being held in the juvenile assessment center. There was no word on whether he will be released to his parents.