Ten students arrested, charged in Hoke High School brawl

RAEFORD

"He got his nose broke," parent Cora Lokclear said. "There's children got their nose broke and everything else yesterday."

Locklear says her 16-year-old son is one of ten students charged. Authorities say about 30 students began fighting early Monday morning.

It took a small army of Hoke County Sheriff's deputies to restore order.

"He said they were out there fighting like cats and dogs," Locklear explained. "He said it all started in the cafeteria. You know what I told him. I told him mind your own. Do your own thing."

Normally there are two or three Hoke County Sheriff deputies on campus. Tuesday there was an added presence to help keep the peace.

"We brought a lot of officers there during the breaks yesterday," Hoke County Chief Deputy Gary Hammonds said. "When they changed from class to class, we had officers there. Then we had officers there again this morning."

Although the fight was in the cafeteria, ABC11 was told the fight started Friday night at a football game.

Another parent, whose son was arrested, says the confrontation then spilled over from the game to a McDonald's in Raeford. She thinks what happened on-campus Monday is part of a growing battle between Native and African American students.

School leaders aren't sure about that claim.

"We did hear some racial concerns, but again like we said, we have not had a full investigation to address that," said Patricia Hollingsworth, school spokesperson.

The school suspended 27 students Monday. Ten of those students were arrested, including three 14-year-olds, and they are facing charges.

School leaders are working to insure parents that their children are safe at Hoke High.

"We want the parents to know, of course, that we do have their children's utmost safety as the priority for us, and we'll do what is necessary to keep our children safe," Hollingsworth added.

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