High School Brawls Draw Police Response

PHILADELPHIA - Police showed up in force to break up a lunchtime melee at a South Philadelphia high school.

Friday the 13th lived up to its reputation, at least inside Audenreid High School. A calm morning turned into a chaotic afternoon as kids did battle with each other -- and then with police, reported Fox 29's Claudia Gomez.

"The two boys just started arguing, and that's when they just started fighting. And then while that fight was going on, two other girls just started fighting, and there was just a crowd of people everywhere," says 9th grader Ashley Johnson.

"A lot of people just like started running toward the fights, to go see what was going on, and that's like when the cops came in," says 9th grader Searra Lovett.

It happened inside the school cafeteria, where all 172 students take their lunch period at the same time. School police couldn't handle the melee so they called in Philadelphia police, who immediately pulled out the handcuffs.

"The eight students that were arrested will face disciplinary action here in the district. We have a zero-tolerance when it comes to fighting and we're just not going to tolerate that,” says Vincent Thompson of the Philadelphia School District.

This is a brand new school but with an old reputation for trouble, carried over from the previous building.

"I think it's terrible. We only send her here because it's a new school, and they promised it wasn't going to be the same thing. So as you can see it's the same thing, and she really doesn't want to be here, so she's probably going to end up transferring," says parent Deandre Johnson.

"Honestly this is a fresh start for this community, and we in the school district absolutely want this to be a fresh start for the kids who are here now and the kids who are coming in the future," says Regional Superintendent Michael Silverman.

"It shouldn't have happened inside of a school, where we're supposed to be learning at," says student Ashley Johnson.

Some students tell Fox 29 News that the officers overrecated and that they used too much force. Other students say there were students who were acting unruly, and at least in one case, a girl was swinging at police.

The School District insists this is an isolated incident in what they say has otherwise been a peaceful year.