12 students injured in attack by pit bull

Oklahoma City school officials are reviewing security protocols following a dog attack that left 12 children injured Monday afternoon.

About 12:40 p.m. Monday, a pit bull terrier ran into the school’s playground during 3rd and 4th grade recess, school officials said Monday afternoon. It attacked students on the playground, then tried to go into the school building, where a teacher tackled the dog.

Special education teacher Lee Hughes wrestled the dog to the floor and held it there until Oklahoma City police officers arrived and took it to a patrol car.

“He’s our hero,” said Susan Martin Rachels, principal at Fillmore.

But Hughes rejected that label, saying he was thankful for a police officer who came to help him hold the dog down until other officers arrived.

“Everybody just did what they were supposed to do,” Hughes said.

School officials said 28 children and three teachers were on the playground at about 12:40 p.m. Monday when the dog attacked. The attack went on for about five minutes before Hughes caught the dog, Rachels said.

District officials don’t know who owns the dog, but Rachels said it wasn’t familiar to the school’s faculty and staff.

Students suffered superficial dog bite wounds and injuries they suffered while running away. None were critically injured, and no teachers reported injuries.

Paramedics took five children to Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center in non-emergency status, said Lara O’Leary, a spokeswoman for Emergency Medical Services Authority. Another seven children left the school with their parents, she said.

At a news conference Monday afternoon, Tim Coleman, director of security for the school district, said the district

is investigating how the dog was able to get to the playground. It’s possible that gates to the playground were left open, Coleman said.

Rachels said the school would review its protocols in the coming days to assess how well teachers responded to the incident.

Oklahoma City schools Superintendent Sean McDaniel said the school’s faculty, staff and administration handled the situation well. McDaniel praised Hughes, saying the attack could have been far worse if he hadn’t caught the dog.

“We are really grateful for Mr. Hughes and his commitment to our kids,” McDaniel said.

Everybody just did what they were supposed to do.” Lee Hughes, special education teacher

[PHOTO BY JIM BECKEL, THE OKLAHOMAN] Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Sean McDaniel, left, listens as special education teacher Lee Hughes describes how he tackled a pit bull terrier in a school hallway after it attacked children during recess. At least 12 children were injured when a pit bull terrier attacked them Monday at Fillmore Elementary School in southwest Oklahoma City.