Several students treated after pepper spray released in 6th grade classroom

One student was taken to the hospital and several others were treated after being exposed to pepper spray in a 6th grade classroom on Tuesday.

Just before 1 p.m. at Dorchester's UP Academy, a can of pepper spray that was in a girl's backpack accidentally went off, sending one student with asthma to the hospital for treatment. Thirteen other people were evaluated by Boston EMS at the school.

With permission from her mother, Boston 25 News spoke with a sixth grader, Kiara Grey, who saw the incident happen. Kiara said the pepper spray was given to the girl for protection -- although she doesn't understand why the girl's mom would give it to her in the first place.

The sixth grader said no students were sprayed directly, but they were concerned for the student who has asthma.

UP Academy has a no weapons policy, which includes pepper spray. The school will look into the incident, even though it appeared to have been an accident.

No further information is available at this time.

Cox Media Group