NEW YORK -- Teenagers brawled in the stands at a high school basketball game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night before police cracked down on the melee, which spilled into the streets.
Gunfire was heard as the crowd went from the arena to Times Square, police said. No injuries were reported. Twenty-one people, mostly teenagers, were arrested, police said. Some were charged with disorderly conduct or resisting arrest and one was arrested on a riot charge.
A 17-year-old male was arrested at a subway station on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon. He was not the one who fired the shots, police said.
A WCBS-TV camera crew inside the arena caught images of fights breaking out in the stands, including a girl slapping a boy, who in turn hit her. Other boys then jumped him, and police intervened.
The news video also showed police swinging batons at someone who cannot be seen, and the station reported that they were hitting a fan. The police said the incident was under investigation, but had no further comment on the footage.
After the crowd spilled into the streets surrounding the arena, police used crowd control tactics, including officers on horseback and in riot gear. Several fights broke out in nearby subways.
The Public Schools Athletic League's AA division city championship high school basketball game was between Brooklyn rivals Lincoln and Boys & Girls.
The fights started in the third quarter, distracting and displacing many in the crowd of thousands, the New York Times reported Monday. Lincoln won 77-50
COURTESY OF YA BOYS AT ESPN....
Lincoln has a kid uhh wit the last name Stevenson in 10th grade....
Madison Square Garden-Police arrest 21 during melee; gunfire heard in crowd
What a way to spoil a game.!!!!
NEW YORK -- Fights between fans during a championship high school basketball game at Madison Square Garden turned into a melee that spilled into the streets and subways, drawing police on horseback and in riot gear.
Courtesy WCBS-TV and wcbstv.com
The brawl occurred during a city championship basketball game between Brooklyn rivals Lincoln and Boys & Girls. More from WCBS-TV.
Gunfire was heard as the crowd went from the arena Sunday night to Times Square, but no injuries were reported, police said.
About 21 people, mostly teenagers, were arrested, police said. Some were charged with disorderly conduct or resisting arrest and one was arrested on a riot charge.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested at a subway station on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon. He may have fired the shots, police said.
A WCBS-TV camera crew inside the arena caught images of fights breaking out in the stands, including a girl slapping a boy, who then swung around and hit her. Other boys jumped him, and police broke up the fight.
The WCBS-TV footage also showed police swinging batons at someone who cannot be seen, and the station reported that they were hitting a fan. The police said the incident was under investigation, but had no further comment.
"All attendees were fully screened by security prior to their entrance into the building," Madison Square Garden authorities said in a statement. "No injuries were reported at MSG during the event, and in order to maintain order, security personnel ejected several hundred individuals from the building. We have offered our assistance to the NYPD to help identify event attendees that may have continued to engage in disorderly conduct after leaving the Garden."
After the crowd left the Garden, dozens of officers were called in, some on horseback and others in riot gear. Several fights broke out in nearby subway stations.
The Public Schools Athletic League's AA division city championship high school basketball game was between Brooklyn rivals Lincoln and Boys & Girls.
The fights started in the third quarter, distracting and displacing many in the crowd of thousands, the New York Times said Monday. Lincoln won 77-50.
"Given the security concerns, we will be evaluating whether to host this event in the future and will have no additional comment at this time," the MSG statement said.
Re: Madison Square Garden-Police arrest 21 during melee; gunfire heard in crowd
This is so stupid, i was watching the game when it all happened. Lincoln was up by like 17 on the boys&girls club and then there was a tech called and not even 20 seconds after that the whole msg crowd turned and looked in one direction.
Fans were going crazy it was wild. I can tell if was a fight because people started running towards the scene like jack asses.
Bassy's HS Lincoln involved in a brawl at MSG
