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Leesburg community to address uptick of violence at high school

LEEDBURG, Fla. — City and community leaders are holding a special meeting to address violence at Leesburg High School.

Last week, 10 female students were suspended following a series of fights.

Another fight was reported at the school this week.

So far, close to a dozen students have been suspended for fighting.

Raw: Videos of fights at Leesburg High School

Leaders from all over the community are coming together to figure out what’s sparking the violence and what they can do to stop it.

"I’m hoping they can get a grip and get it settled down, because right now, it’s hurting the good kids,” said parent Lori Graham.

Graham is upset about the violence and said her son is too.

Last week, 10 fights broke out in the same day during the lunch period.

The chaos was caught on video and posted online.

Graham's son was afraid and said he didn’t feel safe at school.

"He and a lot of friends didn't want to go to school the next day,” said Graham.

The fighting problems isn’t limited to Leesburg High School.

Last month, members of the community worked together to walk Oak Park Middle School students to their homes, after numerous fights happened near the school.

"These are our children, whether they are at school, whether they are at home, or whether they are in the community,” said Leesburg commissioner John Christina.

As a father of two high school students, Christian is teaming up with other community leaders, parents and law enforcement, to hold a community meeting Thursday about the violence.

So far, school leaders don’t know what's at the center of the violence.

They said it seems students are simply fighting over the most insignificant things.

"Someone looked at me wrong, someone talked to my boyfriend, someone said something about me,” said Fred Jones of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Leaders hope they can come up with a solution and end the fighting before someone gets seriously hurt or worse.

“I don't think our young people really understand, that if you fall and hit your head, you land the wrong way, it may not be just a fight, it may be a funeral,” Jones said.

The Sheriff’s Office has increased patrols around Leesburg Middle School and Leesburg police have increased their presence around the school.

Deputies said they are keeping the dialog open with the students and hoping they can also help come up ways to keep things safe.