Frenemy Knocks High Schooler Into ER

An eighth grader at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Berkeley ended up in the emergency room Wednesday morning after he and a fellow eighth-grade student were involved in a verbal argument that turned physical, Berkeley police said.

Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss said that the two 14-year-old boys, who "have been friends," were on the blacktop outside the school gym hanging out at about 8:15 a.m. when they started sparring. The middle school is located at 1781 Rose St.

One teen punched and kicked the other teen, who was injured and was repeatedly knocked to the ground, Kusmiss said.

After fire personnel responded, the victim was transported to an emergency room for further medical evaluation and treatment. He was treated and released with minor injuries to a guardian, she said.
     
"Whenever a young person is injured at school, every precaution is taken to make sure the young person is not seriously hurt," Kusmiss said.

The other juvenile was arrested by police, transported to the department's juvenile holding and booking area and booked before he was released to a responsible adult.