MUSKEGON, Mich.–Dozens of high school students will face misdemeanor charges stemming from a large-scale cafeteria fight at Muskegon High School on March 26th.
Part of the brawl was captured on school surveillance video, which Fox 17 has obtained through the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office.
The video starts off like any other lunch day, but quickly turns to chaos.
Students start to gather during the fight and some stand up on chairs to observe what’s going on at the north end of the cafeteria. The end of the video shows students running away from the incident and police officers entering the area.
The Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office, who has reviewed the investigation, says the incident started when two teenage girls got into a fight and then dozens of other students jumped in.
Staff and police officers stepped in to break it up and were also targeted.
“When students decide to engage and physically assault police officers who are there to break it up and more importantly the staff who are there to supervise, that’s when the stakes get higher and what’s why you are seeing these juveniles face stiffer penalties,” said Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson.
Fifteen juveniles are now facing misdemeanor charges. Seven of those students will be formally charged and the rest will likely go through a diversion program, according to prosecutors.
Charges include fighting, resisting and obstructing a police officer, assault and battery, and disorderly conduct.
The two female students at the center of the fight will be charged as adults.
Investigators say they have juvenile records.
