Homecoming events canceled at Granby HS

NORFOLK, Va. - Granby High School is making some major changes following a large fight at the school Thursday that ended with 15 arrests.

In addition to added security, the school has cancelled a Friday pep rally and the Homecoming dance.

Norfolk Public Schools spokesperson Mike Spencer said Thursday's incident was isolated, but school administrators decided to cancel the events anyway. Some view the action as a blanket punishment. "I don't know that we see it as punishing, but we certainly are being prudent and while that is our belief, it's only based on our experience. So, we want to make sure everybody is safe, which is our first and foremost priority - making sure staff and students are safe," said Spencer.

Norfolk Police were called to Granby High School after several student fights broke out around 11 a.m..

Jennifer Francis with Norfolk Public Schools said two female students got into an argument at lunchtime, but officials broke it up before it got physical. Then, those same students started fighting again a short while later, which grew into a large fight involving other students, said Francis.

12 girls and two boys were arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct, according to Police spokesperson Chris Amos. A parent of one of the students was also arrested and charged with Assault on a Juvenile.

The school was put on lockdown. Parents started showing up to get their children because Thursday was a scheduled early release day.  The parents were anxious, because they could not get in the school or find out what was happening.

Inside the school during the fight, students told WAVY.com it was pure mayhem.

"We were inside our class when the principal announced that we were on lockdown so we got in the corner of our room and the lights were turned out and I heard screaming and yelling out there in the hall," said one freshman student.

Teams of officers and K-9 units descended on the school.

"Windows got broken," said another student. "The fighting was really intense. We smelled mace, then we got pushed into the chorus room."

Another student told WAVY.com, "I saw food flying and everyone running."

According to school officials, school will be in session Friday, but  all homecoming activities except for the football game have been canceled.

Students were upset to hear of the cancellation.

"Everybody else has to be punished, because of it, it's not fair," said junior Collin Kelly.

"I've seen my friends dresses on them [and] they look stunning. It was going to be the one night we all actually looked good, other than our senior prom," said Katherine-Anne Christy.

Friday's football game will go on as scheduled, but Tim Kelly, a freshman and JV football player wonders if the team can win without a pep rally.

"It's real exciting; I would have been excited," said Kelly.

Mike Spencer told WAVY.com the game is not canceled because Granby is playing a team from a different city, Wilson High School, and because a football stadium is easier to control with security than a gymnasium or cafeteria.

Police say there were no weapons involved and no one was injured. They also say they do not believe the fighting was gang related.