Students punished after police had to break up a brawl following basketball game
Suspensions and other disciplinary action has been handed down against students who were involved in a brawl following Tuesday night’s basketball game at Panther Creek High School.
More than 20 Cary police officers were needed to break up fights involving dozens of students after the end of the game between Panther Creek and arch-rival Green Hope High School. No criminal charges have been filed.
But disciplinary measures have been taken — ranging from short-term suspensions to being banned from future athletic events for the remainder of the school year — according to Heather Lawing, a Wake County school spokeswoman.
Citing federal student privacy laws, Lawing did not say Friday how many students were disciplined as a result of the investigation by the principals of both schools.
Extra security for Friday’s game
In addition, Lawing said extra security will be at Panther Creek on Friday night for the basketball game against Cary High School. She said the extra security is strictly a precaution.
Schools typically pay for off-duty law enforcement officers to provide security at athletic events. Those officers were needed Tuesday.
Around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, a crowd of fans leaving the basketball game was drawn to an altercation between some people in the commons area, according to a joint statement from Panther Creek principal Gregory Decker and Green Hope principal Camille Hedrick, The News & Observer previously reported.
Law enforcement officers and administrators from both schools immediately started breaking up the crowd and told people to go home. But some students did not comply and started altercations, according to the principals.
The principals told families after the fight that Tuesday night’s behavior “will not tolerated” and that “appropriate disciplinary action” will be taken.
The principals also stressed the need to show respect to competitors and their fans.
“We expect our students and fans to act with integrity, proudly representing our schools before, during, and after all events,” the principals said. “We can be competitors during the game and fellow students and neighbors after the clock runs out.”
This story was originally published January 31, 2020 at 1:40 PM.
