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Local high school rivalry turns violent





Two Hendersonville High School students have been charged by police for an incident that happened Saturday between the “war teams” of Hendersonville and Beech High schools.File

Two Hendersonville High School students have been charged by police for an incident that happened Saturday between the “war teams” of Hendersonville and Beech High schools.File

A local high school student was severely injured Saturday during an incident involving the “war teams” of Beech and Hendersonville High schools.

The incident started when members of the two rival student-led spirit clubs were “patrolling” in the area of the Publix shopping center on East Main Street and exchanged Airsoft gunfire, according to Hendersonville police.

The fracas then moved to the parking lot of Hendersonville High School where a physical altercation ensued between several Hendersonville High and Beech High School students.

Police say that a Beech High School student sustained serious injuries during the melee.

A 17-year-old HHS student and a 16-year-old HHS student have been charged with robbery, simple assault and vandalism under $1,000, according to police who said they started investigating the incident on Sunday after it was reported to them.

“Hendersonville Police would like to emphasize that although they support friendly sports rivalries between schools, they do not condone the type of behavior that was displayed during this interaction from students participating from both schools,” the law enforcement agency said in news release. “It is important for these rivalries to remain controlled for the safety of the students as well as others in the community. Any future actions taken by students that escalate into criminal acts will be charged accordingly.”

Beech and Hendersonville are scheduled to play each other in football on Friday, Sept. 3 at HHS.

Sumner County Schools Spokesperson Jeremy Johnson said the incident wasn’t part of any school-sanctioned event, and that the administrations of both schools are cooperating with police.

“There will also be school-level discipline once the police investigation is complete,” Johnson added.

Police are looking for anyone with information concerning this incident and would ask that they contact the Hendersonville Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at (615) 264-5303 or the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-594-4113. Tips may also be submitted using the P3 Tips Mobile Application.

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