A woman was injured and a man was arrested after multiple fights broke out during The Howard School's graduation on Friday night, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.
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The first fight broke out around 8:15 p.m. between rival gang members in the Finley Stadium stands and involved about 20-30 people, according to a sheriff's office news release. Deputies that had been hired to provide security reported at least two people being thrown over a railing, but the individuals were never identified and never reported the incident. The fight continued out of the stands and into a tunnel leading to the concourse. While deputies were breaking up the first fight, three more large fights broke out around the concourse area, the release states.
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About 10, mostly juvenile suspects were initially detained by HCSO deputies for disorderly conduct, but they were quickly removed from the stadium and released outside so officers could respond to the additional fights and search for a suspect who had been reported for allegedly running with a firearm. Several 911 calls were received from individuals within the stadium reporting that people were saying they were going to "shoot the stadium up." The suspect who had been reported with a firearm was never found, according to the release.
A woman was treated for injuries during the fights. A man was arrested for disorderly conduct after he attempted to re-enter the stadium and tried to incite another fight at the gate. He was taken to Silverdale Detention Center.
(READ MORE: Chattanooga's Howard School celebrates 150 years)
The graduation concluded without any other major incidents. A large number of sheriff's deputies, and Chattanooga and Red Bank police officers responded to the events and many stayed at the scene until all people safely left the venue, according to the release.
- Compiled by Kim Sebring