Lynn Tech cafeteria beating leads to court date for four teenage girls

LYNN – Four Lynn Vocational and Technical Institute High School girls were arraigned Tuesday for going wild inside the school cafeteria and repeatedly kicking another girl on Friday.All four of the suspects are 17 years old and are identified by police as Bonita Sao of 188 South Common St. #3, Sheila Santiago of 29 Brook St., Iris Alicea of 66 Washington St. and Raineris Vasquez of 100 Glenwood St. #1. Each was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (shod foot) shortly after 12 p.m. Friday.Police say the large fight started during lunchtime when Santiago approached a seated 16-year-old girl and called her “hater.” Santiago then allegedly grabbed food and smashed it into the girl’s face.The 16-year-old fought back and punched Santiago, police said.The victim was then jumped from behind by the three other suspects and fell to the ground where she was repeatedly kicked all over her body, including her stomach, police said.Another 16-year-old girl intervened to help the victim and was struck by the suspects in the chaos, according to police.Numerous teachers witnessed the fight and broke it up, according to police.Police said a fifth girl, Nadia Obregon, 17, of Lynn, will be summonsed to court for simple assault and battery for her participation in the fight.The incident comes weeks after the police department withdrew all school-stationed police officers from school buildings and put them back on routine patrols due to budget cuts. Only one officer remains working at the schools because his salary is funded through a grant and not the municipal budget.