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Violent SC Skip Day, 27 Arrested

April 26, 2006, 05:28 PM EDT
New Media Producer: Rachel Chambliss

A senior cut class day in Greenville, South Carolina turns violent for students from one local high school.

Home video caught a beating in the town of Fountain Inn. One teenager can be seen being punched and kicked by fellow students. Another teen is seen carrying a double bladed knife. Police say some were also carrying guns and shots were even fired at one point.

Amazingly no one was seriously injured. Twenty-seven teenagers were arrested.

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Greenville County, SC

Update on Brawl Caught on Tape

April 27, 2006, 02:07 AM EDT
A total of two dozen people are charged so far---some are students at Greenville County high schools.

"When they came to arrest them, it was sad because it was like my little sisters," says Laasha Burgess, a Junior at Southside. "They're like family to me. It was sad."

Laasha says it's painful to watch the video that shows a fight that got way out of control. At last check, 19 students from Southside High School have been arrested. One student is from Hillcrest. Burgess is hurt that this is affecting her close knit family.

"A lot of focus is on Southside. I watched the news last night. But, the majority of the kids are from Southside. But I think you should give some publicity to the other schools, even if it was one student."

She says Monday's brawl during Southside's Senior Skip Day, that started in Greenville and moved to Fountain Inn, was a disagreement that should have been talked-out a long time ago. Fountain Inn Police say they're still not getting a straight answer from everyone involved.

"There's always the possibility that words are exchanged," says Chief Keith Morton. "Somebody feels like they're challenged or disrespected. It just goes past talking."

Chief Morton says four victims have come forward---three Hillcrest students and another recently graduated from the school. He's heard talk that students from other schools may be involved. He says some of the folks in the video, may not be students at all. But he needs more help from you.

"It's very possible, but we don't know who they are. Even as graphic and detailed as the video we have in our possession is, it's not the entire incident."

Once it's all sorted out, Burgess wants her family back in tact.

"I think it was a terrible mistake. Hopefully it will play a lesson and teach and be a big lesson for us."

Police want to hear from anyone who knows anything about the fight. They are trying to identify the people the video. FOX Carolina also wants to point out that police tell us not everyone involved was from Southside High School---and in fact, officers say some of those involved were not even students.