Rockville freshman Kanisha Neal was murdered in the Blake parking lot following the September 23 Blake vs. Sherwood football game during a fight involving both Rockville and Sherwood girls.

According to witnesses, a vicious fight erupted between two groups of girls, and Neal was attacked with both a baseball bat and a knife. After she was brutally assaulted, Neal fell to the ground, and a group of girls involved fled to their vehicle.

A number of other girls then proceeded to bang on the car. Witnesses said a parent attempted to break up the fight, and several other witnesses watched as the vehicle reversed and crushed Neal’s legs.

“What was going through their heads?” says Blake parent Joyce Shelton. “How can one human being do this to another human being?” A group of both students and parents watched in horror as the event unfolded and authorities tried to control the scene. Two medically trained parents also attempted to perform CPR but were unable to find Neal’s pulse.

Neal was taken to Montgomery General Hospital, and then taken by Medivac helicopter to Suburban Hospital, where she was pronounced dead due to injuries sustained as a result of a stab wound.

Montgomery County Public Schools have been working in reaction to this and other incidents to identify preliminary measures to increase safety in schools. “This is not about Blake or the Blake community— this is about all school events and society in general,” says principal Carole Goodman. “I’m sure there will be some changes; I just hope this incident doesn’t change everything that is positive in high school events.”

Sources who have seen the security video, which panned the parking lot, say that at 8:15pm the Sherwood girls are seen walking. By 8:17pm, people are turning and rushing toward the fight. By 8:18pm, security guard Walter Leslie is on the scene, and police officer Jeffrey Rea arrives moments later to break up the fight. Neal is not actually seen being attacked, but adults can be seen working on her on the ground.

The security team and police declined to respond to questions involving the specifics of the incident because the investigation remains active. However, administration and security believe that the security measures at the game were sufficient in ensuring the safety of all attendees. Concerning security Mrs. Goodman adds, “I do not believe any amount of security short of an armed militia would have made a difference.”

Four police officers, six security members, five administrators and dozens of faculty members were present at the game.

Mrs. Goodman and the administration are working with the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Safety and Security to review the night’s events and determine whether any additional security measures should be taken in the future. Mrs. Goodman said in her letter to the Blake community, “Safety comes first, and we will not waver in taking appropriate steps to provide a safe and secure educational environment.”

Many members of the Blake community found some small solace in learning that the fight did not involve Blake students. However, says one anonymous Blake parent, “The public’s perception of the school is going to change.”

The fight was allegedly related to a spitting incident between two groups of girls earlier this month. “Nothing could have been that important,” says senior Lauren Johnston, “that someone needed to lose [her] life.”

Police investigators would not release the suspect’s name since she is being tried as a juvenile. They did reveal that she is a Sherwood student and Olney resident.

Crisis counselors were available earlier this week for Blake students who witnessed the incident. Many are still extremely traumatized by the event. Says sophomore Jackie Richard, “It’s horrible that something so horrific could happen at our school.”

 “It’s devastating. Our school is the scene of a murder,” says senior Yasmin Schenkman, “I think people are going to be really disturbed by that.” Class discussions spawned heated debates on the many issues surrounding the incident.

According to The Washington Post, this is the first time a student has been deliberately murdered during a campus event in MCPS.