Police on Long Island are investigating after a racially-charged high school grudge turned into an all-out brawl this weekend. One teen was hospitalized with a broken jaw from the melee, in which the teens were fighting with baseball bats, knives and brass knuckles.
According to NBC, the brawl was a result of ongoing racial tensions between students at Connetquot High School. Corbett Robinson, 14, who was seen in a video of the fight (you can see a clip from the video below) punching 14-year-old Nicholas Abrahamsen, the student who broke his jaw, claimed he’d endured months of racist insults before Saturday’s brawl. "We took matters into our own hands and some kid got hurt," Corbett told News 12.
During the fight, you can hear one black student in a grey hoodie say to a white student, "You called me the N-word," as a friend hands him an aluminum bat. The fight lasted about 10 minutes altogether, and Abrahamsen was the only one taken to the hospital, where he is in fair condition: "Out of concern for Nicholas' well-being, we ask that you respect his privacy and our family's privacy as we all focus our energy on helping Nicholas recover," the family said in a statement.
All the students involved in the fight have been suspended from school pending a disciplinary review. Suffolk County police have posted additional officers at the high school in the days since in fear of 'retribution' from students.
At a school board meeting Tuesday night, parents accused the school of ignoring the warning signs about the escalating feud. "This situation has been going on since September. These two groups of boys, my son and his friends and the other group share a lunch period. It's been going on all year long between the groups of boys," said Jenn DiMaggio, Abrahamsen's mother.
The school district claims they reached out to parents beforehand about their "concern that the verbal argument could grow into something more serious." ABC reports that the parents were just as riled up as their kids:
"How would you want your kid like that!" one parent said.
"Sit down! You don't have the mic she has the mic," an official said.
"If we have no respect we have nothing! It starts right here, and right there, you're the parents," a parent said.
One student who was involved in the fight spoke out as well:
"I am one of the kids that got brutally beaten with brass knuckles. The day after this fight I got a voicemail from anonymous of a box cutter that I was stabbed with opening and closing, this is not over this is continuing. What are you guys going to do about this? Because I'm terrified now. And why am I suspended? Why am I suspended for saving my friends life?" a student said.
Connetquot Central School District Superintendent issued this statement:
As a reminder, New York State law prohibits us from identifying or discussing students by name.
Our understanding is the physical altercation between several of our high school students that occurred off of school grounds on Saturday was brought about as a result of a verbal altercation that occurred in the high school on Friday between students who have had disagreements with one another.
The safety of our students, faculty and staff is always our primary concern. When the verbal altercation did occur, high school administration immediately intervened and met with the students who were involved. At no time did a physical dispute among the students occur on school grounds. Outreach was made from school officials to the parents/guardians of the students involved in the verbal altercation. The intention was to make the parents aware of the school district's concern that the verbal argument could grow into something more serious over the weekend outside of the school district's jurisdiction.
Throughout this school year, as in previous school years, the Connetquot Central School District follows a strict protocol any time a parent/guardian or student brings an issue to the attention of school officials. This includes direct communication with the parent/guardian and student, an immediate investigation to develop the facts, providing counseling to the student when necessary, disciplinary action if warranted, contacting legal authorities and changes in security measures if needed. Protocol is still being followed in respect to this issue.
High school administrators and educators will remind, and continue to educate, all of our students to not participate in any silent, verbal or physical action which may encourage conflict among the student population. We encourage all parents/guardians to speak to their children as well. We will continue to be vigilant in regards to maintaining the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.
