Gonzales graduation brawl leads to arrest

Gonzales police made a fourth arrest after a fight broke out during East Ascension High School’s graduation ceremony and spread quickly online in a widely shared video. Travonshay Mills, 22, was arrested Friday evening, according to WBRZ. The brawl erupted Wednesday night during the ceremony in Gonzales, and police said more arrests could follow as they reviewed footage. All four people arrested were booked on charges including simple battery, disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct. ### Who was the fourth person arrested? Travonshay Mills, 22, was arrested Friday evening in connection with the fight, WBRZ reported. Gonzales police identified her as the woman seen in the video swinging a purse during the melee in the stands. Friday’s arrest came after police had already arrested three others tied to the disturbance. (wbrz.com) KLFY, citing WAFB, reported that 17-year-old Destiney Thompson, 17-year-old Delencia Williams and 18-year-old Rodneisha Patterson were arrested after the fight at the graduation ceremony. ### Where did the fight happen, and who was involved? East Ascension High School’s graduation ceremony was underway at Spartan Stadium in Gonzales when the fight broke out in the stands. Police said the people involved were audience members — family members or friends watching the ceremony — and not graduates. (klfy.com) Video from the scene showed several people fighting while others tried to pull them apart. Officers broke up the altercation, and police initially detained two people who were later cleared of wrongdoing, according to KLFY’s report. ### What charges do the four face? All four women were booked into the Ascension Parish jail on charges of simple battery, disturbing the peace in a violent and tumultuous manner, and disorderly conduct, according to KLFY’s report. (klfy.com) WBRZ’s report on Mills’ arrest said the fourth arrest was tied to the same graduation brawl. On May 16, 2016, a judge refused to set bail for two women and two girls arrested after the fight, WBRZ reported. That report said the no-bail ruling applied to the four people arrested in the case. ### What did Gonzales police say about the video? Gonzales Police Chief Sherman Jackson said the footage angered him and said the people involved “should be ashamed,” according to KLFY’s report. (klfy.com) Jackson said the fight took attention away from students who had worked four years to reach graduation. (wbrz.com) Jackson also said his department would review video and make arrests. He said, “We will not tolerate this behavior in our city,” and added that “further arrests may also be forthcoming,” according to the same report. ### What happens next in the case? May 16, 2016 became the next key step in the case when a judge declined to set bail for the four arrested after the graduation fight, WBRZ reported. (klfy.com) Court proceedings after that ruling would determine whether additional conditions, hearings or charges followed for Mills, Thompson, Williams and Patterson. (wbrz.com)