8 Arrested Following Fight at Abington Senior High School. ABINGTON, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — A brawl inside Abington Senior High School on Thursday morning resulted in the arrest of eight teenagers. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, thanks to the swift response of Abington police’s school resource officers.
The Incident
The teens now face serious charges, including riot and simple assault. This altercation is just one of many that have occurred between the same two groups of students in recent months, according to Abington’s Police Chief Patrick Molloy.
“Our juvenile detectives have been dealing with two groups of young teens over the last seven months that have been involved in altercations and other crimes,” Molloy explained. These confrontations often begin as sparring matches through social media posts and can escalate to more serious offenses.
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Underlying Tensions
Abington police have also revealed that one of the ongoing disputes between these groups is related to the tragic death of 16-year-old Abington High School student Keivon Abraham, who was fatally shot in Philadelphia in May.
Molloy, in collaboration with Pastor Marshall Mitchell of The Salem Baptist Church, is now working to address this crisis by bringing in community mentors, responding to the requests of parents of many of the students involved in these conflicts.
Community Intervention
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“We need our children to understand the life-changing consequences of a video,” emphasized Mitchell. In the past several weeks, there have been mediations involving the teens, police, school administration, and 40 community mentors.
“We operate a Police Athletic League, so what we’re saying is we’re going to double down on what we’re doing on a part-time basis,” Mitchell stated. This initiative will include providing mental health services and programs that offer strong role models and mentors, among other ideas.
“Children have also seen things on the internet, social media … it’s actually taking an enormous toll on our children,” Mitchell added.
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Official Statement
On the day of the incident, a fight broke out inside Abington Senior High School around 11:28 a.m. The situation was swiftly brought under control through the coordinated efforts of an Abington Police School Resource Officer, school personnel, and the school’s security team, according to a press release from the Abington Police Department.
The eight juveniles involved were arrested and charged with riot and simple assault. The ongoing investigation, conducted in cooperation with the Abington School District, may lead to additional charges against other students implicated in the incident.
Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported among police, staff members, or students during the altercation.
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Principal’s Statement
Principal Angelo Berrios issued a statement to the school community, declaring, “We will continue to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. Altercations will never be tolerated at Abington Senior High School.”
Details In Short
Conclusion
The incident at Abington Senior High School underscores the urgent need for community intervention and mentorship programs to address the underlying tensions and conflicts among young students. As authorities work to ensure the safety of the school environment, efforts are also being made to educate and support the involved youth in making more positive choices for their futures.
