Four students at Santa Monica Charter School in Hollywood were treated by paramedics on March 17 after being exposed to pepper spray while at school.

The incident occurred at approximately 9 a.m. on at the school grounds at 1022 N. Van Ness Ave.

Sgt. David Legaspi, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division, said a 7-year-old female student had found a canister of pepper spray in her mother’s purse and brought it to school. As she was showing it to friends, the canister discharged some of the pepper spray toward the ground. The girl and her three friends were indirectly exposed to the spray, and paramedics were called. The students were determined to be in fair condition, and were released to their parents, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Katherine Main said.

Legaspi said police responded to the school, and determined “no crime” had occurred. The school was not evacuated, the sergeant added, because the incident was contained to an isolated area.

“It was accidental,” Legaspi said.