A Virginia man was arrested after tossing a group of people down bleachers at a high school soccer game, sparking a full-blown brawl that left five people in the hospital.
Donald Guerrant, 24, was caught on video shoving the group in the middle of a heated argument during a scoreless overtime match between the Union and Ridgeview High Schools in Appalachia’s Riggs Stadium on Monday night.
The entire group immediately tumbles down the bleachers, to the horror of the other spectators, as Guerrant jumps down and starts throwing punches at two men.
Guerrant and another man could be seen throwing fast jabs at each other as they eventually fall off the bleachers and continue their fight on the ground.
After they get up, the other man charges at Guerrant, with two other men joining as the 24-year-old shoves them away.
More horrified screams can be heard as other adults rush in to separate the group, with one high school soccer player spotted jumping the fence to try and help before a woman stops him.
A Wise County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was already at the game put an end to the incident as first responders arrived.
Police said that five people were hospitalized and treated for injuries following the brawl.
Guerrant was arrested and faces misdemeanor assault and battery charges.
While many on social media claimed that the fight was started over one of the parents using racial slurs or because the match was tied at zero, police have said they have not confirmed any instances of that as the investigation is ongoing.
Wise County Schools Superintendent Mike Goforth condemned the fight, saying in a statement that it was “unacceptable” to display such violence in front of students.
Goforth said that because the soccer game was interrupted during a tie, the game would resume at a later time in Abingdon.