5 charged in connection with fight at Washington High School basketball game
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Two juveniles were also identified as being involved in the fight.
The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office filed charges against the following individuals:
Keeion Mahone, 18
- Battery
- Disorderly Conduct
Tisean Overstreet, 18
- Battery
- Disorderly Conduct
Destefano Richardson, 20
- Battery
- Disorderly Conduct
Isaiah Redding, 18
- Battery
- Disorderly Conduct
Jamarion Watson, 19
- Disorderly Conduct
All five currently have active warrants for their arrests.
The St. Joseph County Juvenile Justice Center is handling the case against the two juveniles involved.
On February 2, an officer with the South Bend Police Department was working as a School Resource Officer at the Washington vs. Riley boys basketball game when he saw Watson and Redding walking around the school.
The officer told administrators and security staff to be on alert because both men have known connections with the Westside gang, reports said.
During the first half of the game, the officer also saw Richardson, Watson, Mahone and four others, all with known connections with the Westside gang, sitting with Watson and Redding, police reported.
At halftime, the group walked from the upper stands to the lower level of the gym.
Three members of the group, who were not identified in the probable cause affidavit, approached a 17-year-old known to associate with the South East Side gang.
Shortly after, a fight broke out, spilling onto the gym floor and separating into multiple fights involving multiple people.
Administrators, faculty and security broke up the fights and removed everyone involved from the building.
Fans, students, and athletes were then released.
Security footage from the incident showed Mahone swing the first punch and hit the 17-year-old associated with the South East Side gang, reports said.
The 17-year-old tries to run away but is pushed down, at which point Overstreet and two others allegedly begin kicking and stomping on the 17-year-old while he is still on the floor.
After another individual tries to help the 17-year-old, more fighting breaks out.
Other footage captured Richardson and Redding repeatedly punch an individual associated with the Patch Gang, reports said.
The SRO officer on scene also saw Watson push and punch others during the fight, according to reports.
Police continue to investigate others who were involved in the incident.
“Our investigation surrounding who and what prompted this fight began immediately after the incident, as this not only created a significant safety risk for everyone in attendance that night, but it ruined a very special evening for our local athletes and students,” said South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski.
This is an ongoing investigation.
If you have any information, please call the South Bend Police Department's Detective Bureau at 574-235-9263.
Tipsters can maintain anonymity by contacting Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP.