Four Teens Charged with Breaking into Minneapolis School, Beating Student

Four teenagers have been charged with burglary and rioting after allegedly breaking into a Minneapolis high school and beating a student. 

Police say the four males, ages 16 and 17, broke through a locked door at Southwest High School on January 22. 

The teens apparently had an argument with the victim on social media, so they went to the school to confront him.  The four attend other Minneapolis-area schools. 

A Southwest teacher told police he was teaching chemistry when the four entered his classroom and began punching and kicking one of the students.  The teacher tried to break up the fight and suffered a broken finger. 

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says he charged the four with burglary because it has tougher penalties than lower-level assault charges.