With every story, everyone (on the Left, the Right, and in between) does the same thing: We think back to our own experiences, and we picture ourselves in someone’s shoes.
I agree with this point made by Eastforker: Let’s look at the story objectively.
This video shows more of the fight: https://x.com/BrendanMcInnis/status/1774082260570132693
It’s difficult to watch, but I watched it. These appear to be two groups fighting each other, just as the news is reporting.
What I see:
I can’t determine from the video whether Kaylee made the first move toward Maurnice (as was reported) or Maurnice and Kaylee went for each other at the same time.
Maurnice pulled Kaylee to the ground right away. Kaylee tried to fight back while on the ground.
A third girl came up and started hitting Maurnice from behind until that girl was pushed back by a fourth girl.
Then, Maurnice got on top of Kaylee, who at that point was defenseless, and slammed her head into the ground multiple times.
While Kaylee was unconscious on the ground, Maurnice jumped into the other fights.
Both Kaylee and Maurnice were there to fight. So, at the start of the fight, neither was acting in self-defense. They both showed up to fight each other.
But, when Maurnice gained the upperhand on top of Kaylee, she should’ve stopped there. Right then, she’d already beaten Kaylee in the fight.
But, she didn’t stop. She took things too far by slamming her head into the concrete repeatedly.
I get Eastforker’s point that, if you show up to fight, be prepared to finish it. But, Maurnice took things too far.
Laws of self-defense vary among the states, but it's a general rule that the right of self-defense ceases at a certain point.
For instance, if the other party retreats or is incapacitated.