TROTWOOD — Police have expressed concerns that a fight at Trotwood-Madison High School on Thursday may be gang-related, according to a Montgomery County juvenile court magistrate.
Magistrate Todd Calaway mentioned the concerns multiple times during court hearings for the juveniles arrested at the high school Thursday.
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He also discussed concerns from the school board that the fight was premeditated.
Friday morning, pastors, parents, elected officials and community members held a prayer rally at Trotwood-Madison High School in response to the recent fights and subsequent arrests at the school.
“Prayer is the call to action. Prayer proceeds action,” said Norman J. Scearce, Trotwood City School board member. “So we are here today to kind of garner the support and commitment to community members that says hey you know we are getting involved. We will use this as an opportunity to acknowledge that there is something that needs to be done.
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“We don’t have all the answers, but we will definitely commit to doing something.”
The first fight erupted Monday morning after three non-students made their way into the building and confronted students in the cafeteria who were eating breakfast.
The student resource officer, who broke up the altercation, arrested three teenagers who are not enrolled at the school and they are facing charges of trespassing.
The second fight occurred yesterday afternoon, resulting in eleven high school students being arrested on preliminary charges that include disorderly conduct.
Dillyn J. Moore, Lance A. Irvin Jr., Avion J. Harris, Jada L. Frosh and Devon I. Loritts, all 18, were arrested at the high school Thursday afternoon.
The five are all facing preliminary riot, inciting to violence and disorderly conduct charges.
The motive for the fight is not known, according to police, and the students involved were not willing to tell police or school officials anything about it.
The incidents on Monday and Thursday were not related, police said.
Additional police presence will be provided at the school due to the recent incidents.
Also, the school's safety plan is being reviewed to determine whether there are additional needs to ensure the safety of all students and staff.