Students Pepper-Sprayed by Classmate at Queens School

Thirty-four Queens middle school students were pepper-sprayed by a classmate at lunch on Tuesday, according to the city's Department of Education.

A student at Virgil I. Grissom Middle School in South Ozone Park had brought the pepper spray and was showing it to friends during lunch, said a department spokeswoman, Marge Feinberg. Somehow, the canister discharged. An investigation is underway, she said.

Ms. Feinberg said the students were being treated at the school by a doctor and emergency medical technicians. No one had to be taken to the hospital, a Fire Department spokesman said.