Props to the kid for not just standing around like everybody else and watching her get murdered. The memories of High School still fresh in my mind, this really upsets me. I don't understand how all those people could just stand there and watch, although I can't help to think that it was related to school policies regarding fighting. When I was in HS, my backpack weighted a fairly decent amount, and could have easily distracted someone if they got smacked with it without me having to get close enough to be in range of even the highest caliber screwdriver.
When I was in High School there was, like in most schools, a zero-tolerance policy against violence, which I understand and support. However, the Principle's policy was also that even if somebody attacked you, that you should not do anything, and that it was the faculties job to help you. If you engaged in any sort of physical confrontation, regardless of whether you where defending yourself or not you would suspended for the maximum possible length able to be given out by him of of 2 weeks, and recommended to some sort of conduct board for permanent expulsion, and that you would have charges pressed against you. His idea was that you should run away, and that nobody could possible get hurt in a school environment with all the teachers and one local PD "Resource Officer" who was usually around during regular school hours.
Later that year, a Freshman student was jumped in the hallway by two Seniors. He tried to run away, but this was in the middle of a class change and there was a wall of onlooking students blocking his escape. He had no choice but to try to fight back. He got off two punches hitting one of the kids in the face twice, giving him a black eye. Then another Senior joined in with the attackers, the victim ended up on the ground getting kicked repeatedly. The attackers then ran off, leaving the victim behind unconscious, with a pool of blood and teeth around him. The victim was suspended for 2 weeks for trying to defend himself, all of the attackers where expelled, two of them went to jail. The victim ended up not returning to the school, he suffered minor brain damage and a serious kidney issue. He was in the hospital for 3 months before he was released.