National

‘After hours fight club’ under investigation after video surfaces at Pennsylvania school

Students were shown fighting at West Mifflin Area High School in what parents call an “after hours fight club.”
Students were shown fighting at West Mifflin Area High School in what parents call an “after hours fight club.” Street View Image from May 2019 © 2019 Google

A Pennsylvania school district is investigating a video that parents said shows an “after hours fight club” involving students.

Footage from the fight was shared on social media. It shows a group of young men engaged in what appears to be an organized fight at the wrestling room of West Mifflin Area High School.

The video was discussed at a recent West Mifflin School Board meeting, Pittsburgh-area media outlets reported.

“I first thing want to talk about the fight club, whatever that is,” former school board member Erin White said during the meeting, according to WTAE. “How does a student enroll in the fight club? Can somebody answer that for me?”

Leon Harrison, who referred to the event as an “after hours fight club,” said he was concerned because it showed “actual punches being thrown,” according to WPXI.

A school board member replied during the meeting that the fighting was “not a school event,” WTAE reported.

School district officials told KDKA it continues to investigate the incident, which occurred while the building was closed during a weekend.

“At this point in our investigation, it was determined that this was a one-time event,” West Mifflin Superintendent Jeff Soles told KDKA. “There was no evidence that this event was premeditated.”

Soles said everyone involved in the event “will be held accountable and responsible for their actions,” WPXI reported.

West Mifflin is about 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

This story was originally published November 22, 2022 at 8:31 AM with the headline "‘After hours fight club’ under investigation after video surfaces at Pennsylvania school."

MS
Mike Stunson
Lexington Herald-Leader
Mike Stunson covers real-time news for McClatchy. He is a 2011 Western Kentucky University graduate who has previously worked at the Paducah Sun and Madisonville Messenger as a sports reporter and the Lexington Herald-Leader as a breaking news reporter. 
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