Terri Sanginiti and Esteban Parra

The News Journal

Newark police have identified 11 students who are facing charges from fights Monday morning at Newark High School.

More than a dozen students were suspended and turned over to their parents following two incidents that occurred in different areas of the school, Newark police Lt. Mark Farrall said.

Initial reports from police were that "hundreds of students" took part in fighting that was prompted by postings on social media. But authorities revised their statement to say that a smaller group was involved in the actual fights.

It also appears the incident was not a planned event or precipitated by social media posts as originally reported, he said.

The incident unfolded about 7 a.m. in the A cafeteria and police were called to the school at 350 E. Delaware Ave. to disperse a large fight.

That fight stemmed from a "neighborhood dispute from the weekend that spilled over to school," Farrall said.

"The school staff handled it, but while officers were there several other fights broke out in the C and D hallway where officers found several hundred kids gathered, impeding their access to the ones fighting and [officers] called for assistance," he said.

New Castle County and state police responded to help the 23 Newark officers break up the brawls and clear the hallways.

"We're trying to find out where it started, but haven't been able to track down the source of the Instagram posting," said Christina School District spokeswoman Wendy Lapham, adding everything was handled quickly and no one was injured.

"The school beat us to it," said Farrall, noting a posting on the school district's website, that stated the following:

"Many parents and students were aware of police activity at Newark High School this morning. This was in response to altercations involving students that occurred near the beginning of school and required additional police response. The situation was quickly managed, and there were no injuries. The school day resumed normally.

"Students involved in the incidents will be disciplined according to the Student Manual, and some may face arrest."

Newark police will have "several officers" at the school Tuesday morning, Farrall said.

Several Newark police vehicles were parked outside the high school Monday morning as some parents stopped at the school to see what was going on.

Candace Jackson read initial reports about hundreds of students fighting and headed to the school.

"They're saying that there was hundreds fighting, but it was only seven," she said.

Either way, Jackson took her son, a senior, out of school Monday hours after dropping him off.

"There's too much going on today," she said Monday. "We'll deal with them tomorrow."

Contact Terri Sanginiti at (302) 324-2771 or tsanginiti@delawareonline.com

Contact Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com