Arrests made in connection to fight at FHS-SHS basketball game

Published 5:34 pm Friday, February 9, 2024

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Southampton County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday, Feb. 9, that several arrests have been made in reference to the fight that occurred on Jan. 12 at a Franklin High School-Southampton High School basketball game in Courtland.

SCSO officials stated that the individuals arrested, along with their charges and details of their arrests are as follows:

  • Derrick Antron Perry Jr., 19, of Franklin — disorderly conduct and felony assault on law enforcement; arrested Feb. 2 by the Franklin Police Department
  • Tymeir Elijah Edwards, 20, of Courtland — disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice; arrested Feb. 2 by the FPD
  • Shaquille Jacquell Joyner, 21, of Franklin — disorderly conduct; arrested Feb. 2 by the FPD
  • Kierra Datrice Reid, 33, of Franklin — disorderly conduct; arrested Feb. 3 by the Southampton County Sheriff’s Office
  • Shatanilya Reid Watson, 36, of Franklin — disorderly conduct; arrested Feb. 3 by the SCSO
  • Ronnie Fortonia Joyner, 53, of Franklin — disorderly conduct and felony entry onto school grounds while being a sex offender; arrested Feb. 2 by the FPD
  • Additionally, two 16-year-old juveniles were charged with one count each of disorderly conduct, and one 15-year-old juvenile was charged with disorderly conduct.

Court dates for the above individuals are pending at this time.

A Jan. 23 Southampton County Sheriff’s Office news release noted that a fight broke out in the stands of the Southampton High School gymnasium on Friday evening, Jan. 12, that led to the cancellation of the varsity boys basketball game between the Indians and Franklin High School and resulted in pending charges for multiple subjects from the crowd.

The release stated that shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 12, SCSO deputies assigned to work a basketball game at SHS saw a fight break out in the stands. The release noted that there were approximately 10 persons or fewer involved in the incident, and deputies responded to the area of the fight and were able to stop the active fighting quickly.

“It is unknown why the fight started or who started it,” SCSO officials stated in the Jan. 23 release. “Both adults and juveniles were involved. There are no reports that players from either team were involved.”

Southampton County Sheriff Josh A. Wyche Sr. was at the game, and he and school officials made the decision to cancel the event and have everyone leave, the release noted.