Police were summoned to the campus at approximately 10 a.m. to assist school officials with a disturbance in the main lobby. According to village officials, once police arrived on the scene, they quickly contained the altercation, which involved several students. Two officers suffered minor injuries, and one male student, 16, was taken to Mercy Medical Center for treatment of facial bruises and a possible concussion.
When the dust settled, three students were arrested. Andrew Crummell, 16, was charged with third-degree misdemeanor assault; Jordan McPherson, 16, was charged with third-degree misdemeanor assault on another student and second-degree felony assault on two police officers; and an unidentified minor, 15, was charged with third-degree misdemeanor assault. Gregory McPherson, 35, Jordan's father, was also arrested, and charged with attempting to obstruct the arrest of his son. It is not known why he was on school grounds.
Police and school officials are investigating a possible link between the events at the high school and a disturbance last Friday on North Village Avenue. In that incident, police were called to a business at approximately 9:30 p.m. to deal with a conflict among a group of teens. When officers arrived, they found two injured young men. The first victim, a 17-year-old, had suffered a head laceration but refused medical attention. The second victim, 16, had multiple cuts and was taken to Mercy Medical Center for treatment. None of the teens involved in Friday's melee cooperated with the police investigation.
"It does appear that the events [at the high school] may be a carry-over from [the] incident [last Friday] that occurred in the community and spilled onto the school grounds," Johnson said.
One of the theories being explored is that the incident at the high school was an act of retaliation for the victims' injuries in Friday's skirmish. The investigation is continuing, and according to village spokesman Jeff Kleuwer, another arrest in the high school assault is expected soon.
According to people who were in the school at the time of the assaults, an announcement was made during the third class period that the school was under lockdown. Students were told to remain in their classrooms until further notice. Those in classrooms with a view of the parking area could see the police cars, while others in the building could only guess what was happening.
SSHS Principal Carol Burris advised students of the arrests during the ninth period of the day, according to people in the building. She also reassured students that they were safe, and recommended that they talk to guidance counselors if they were feeling uneasy.
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