A dozen people were arrested after a massive brawl involving as many as 150 students at the high school Monday morning, authorities said. The confrontation, which apparently started between two nonstudents outside the building, ultimately injured several police officers, and at least one student was taken to a hospital, officials said.
Lakewood High School was in lockdown for a portion of the school day following the incident, which involved multiple fights inside the building and on school property outside, said Edward W. Luick, superintendent of schools.
The initial fight started in the parking lot about 10:45 a.m. between two nonstudents ? both of whom were arrested ? but soon spread to the nearby multipurpose room that serves as a lunchroom, Lakewood Deputy Police Chief Charles Smith said during an afternoon news conference.
Of those arrested, five were sent to the Ocean County juvenile detention facility in Toms River and six were arrested and released to parents or guardians, Detective Steve Wexler said. Eugene Mears, 36, of Woodlake Manor Drive, one of the nonstudents, was charged with trespassing, Wexler said.
One student, treated and released for a laceration at Kimball Medical Center, was among those charged in the fight.
The school was locked down shortly after the fighting began and police were called. Later, the school's 1,360 students were dismissed in an orderly fashion at 2:10 p.m. ? the normal end of the school day ? without incident.
Some students said they thought the fight had a gang connection.
Smith said gang activity was among possible motives being investigated.
Isis Randolph, 16, a junior, said people are forming gangs that are subgroups of other gangs.
"If you want to fight, join the Army and stand on a front line in the war," Randolph said. "You can't even come to school without having to watch your back."
Smith said police "were overwhelmed," and requested assistance from Brick, Toms River, Jackson and Howell. It was unclear how many officers responded.
Police Capt. Gregory Miick was in the multipurpose room when one fight broke out and was hit in the face with a chair, he said. Several officers were tackled, and other officers were injured; however, none of the injuries was serious, he said.
Miick, Lt. Michael Dennis and Patrolman Edgardo Vega, who responded along with 22 other Lakewood officers, were among those struck.
Charges filed included aggravated assault on police officers, aggravated assault on school facilities, rioting, failure to disperse, terroristic threats and disorderly persons offenses, Detective Lt. Joseph Isnardi said.
Miick said that oleo capsicum spray, a chemical irritant, was used to control the violence. After Vega was "struck in the face and knocked to the ground," another officer used pepper spray to gain control, Miick said.
At the afternoon news conference, Luick said officials decided not to cancel school, and not to notify parents, because the school wanted to maintain order. The high school has had fights before, Luick said, but never one that required such a large police response.
However, many parents did show up at the school after receiving calls from students saying they were afraid. News of the violence spread fast through text messages and cell phones.
Luick said a number of students left school early ? some with permission and some without ? and added that some parents did not follow established rules in picking up their children.
Luick said students involved in the fight face penalties including suspension. School will be in session today, he said.
Teachers had an emergency meeting with school administrators and police after the school day ended and were able to discuss their concerns about the incident.
Smith said the fight was fueled by a previous incident that happened over the weekend in South Toms River, but he had no further details. The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said Monday it had no knowledge of such an incident.
Serina Moore, a 14-year-old freshman, said the experience was disturbing. Serina was picked up during school by her aunt, Racquel Moore, 38, at the request of Serina's mother.
Renee Benson said her son, freshman Jaleel Powell, was struck three times in the face. "I send my child here to get an education; now he doesn't want to come back here," Benson said.
Benson said her understanding was that the people involved in the fight belonged to cliques.
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread
