(UPDATE: Tuesday, May 24, 2022)
We're getting our first look at a brawl that broke out at Howard High School's graduation Friday night.
A NewsChannel 9 viewer, who wants to remain anonymous, sent us the video Tuesday morning.
He says he was there for his son's graduation.
He tells us no one in his family was hurt as they were away from the fighting.
In the video, you can hear people screaming and you can see one man punch another right after he is thrown of a railing.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says the fight broke out between rival gangs.
UPDATE (Monday):
Hamilton County Schools Chief Operation Officer Robert Sharpe told us on Monday that school officials were aware there was some potential for trouble at Howard's Friday graduation.
"We had received some information that that there, you know, was a possibility, you know, some issues that evening," Sharpe told us.
Sharpe says the deadly shooting at a high school graduation at Middle Tennessee State University earlier was at the top of the minds of school officials prior to Friday.
Sharpe says "we upped our security." That included adding more deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, along with school resource officers.
He also added that graduations are some of the largest events for the district, so the district regularly puts in "extra work" to planning security for these events.
Sharpe says 10 Sheriff deputies were on scene at Finley stadium and were able to respond quickly. This is in addition to Finley Stadium Security and support members from attending police departments.
Meanwhile, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office confirms one person was arrested after this incident.
52-year-old Raphael Torres Colvin is charged with disorderly conduct.
An affidavit we obtained says Colvin was seen "screaming at responding deputies and disrupting the investigation of the ongoing incident."
Police asked Colvin to leave several times but he "refused and continued to yell obscenities at law enforcement," the affidavit says.
Howard High School Principal Dr. LeAndrea Ware says initial reports show 2 Howard School students were potentially involved in the fighting.
Sheriff’s deputies say they detained 10 juveniles but had to let them go to respond to reports of more trouble, but district officials tell us their will be consequences for any student involved.
For Dr. Ware, as the fight unfolded she said her goal was to refocus the crowd on the hard work the class of 2022 had put-in to arrive at their graduation day.
"When I think about the resilience, and the dedication of that that class of students, it was most important to me that, again, regardless of any distraction that attempted to rear its ugly head, we were going to celebrate them. And that is why I chose to keep the focus on the graduates," said Ware.
She says this class has overcome two years of COVID and added that her students are "not defined by the misguided behavior of a few individuals.
"We teach our students of being the tiger way respectful, responsible and ready at all times. And obviously, whomever those individuals are, maybe we can have a summer session for these adults," said Ware.
Robert Sharpe did tell us that there were no other major altercations at any of the graduation ceremonies across the district.
However, he did confirm there was what he called a “minor skirmish” between two individuals by the exit of Finley stadium following East Hamilton High School’s graduation.
Depend on us to keep you posted as we learn more.
UPDATE: Saturday, May 21st @ 9:15 p.m.
Dr. Le Andrea Ware, Executive Principal of The Howard School, released a statement to NewsChannel 9 following Friday night's fights:
The administration, faculty and staff of The Howard School are extremely proud of the way our Amazing Graduates refused to allow the foolish, irresponsible, and disrespectful behavior of a few individuals ruin the day our students have fought fiercely to accomplish over the past four years.
Our graduates stood tall and proud as we steadfastly placed our focus on celebrating their phenomenal accomplishments, including over 1.3 million dollars in scholarships and offers.
We extend our deepest appreciation to the 3000 plus families, guests and friends who came out to properly share in this momentous occasion, and we vehemently declare that those involved in such egregious antisocial behavior DO NOT represent Howard and the Tiger Way! Go Tigers!!
PREVIOUSLY
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office responded to multiple fights at Howard High School's Graduation Ceremony Friday night.
Deputies were hired by the Hamilton County Department of Education to provide security for the graduation which was taking place at Finely Stadium.
Officials say around 8:15 pm, a large fight broke out in the stands between rival gang members.
About 20 to 30 people were involved in this initial fight according to HCSO. During the large fight in the stands, deputies saw at least two people being thrown over the railing.
Officials say the fight continued out of the stands and into a tunnel leading to the concourse. As deputies were breaking up this fight, three additional large fights broke out around the concourse area.
Deputies arrested ten suspects (mostly juveniles) involved in the fights for disorderly conduct.
Due to the additional fights occurring and a report of a subject running with a firearm, deputies quickly removed the detained individuals from the stadium and released them outside the venue in order to have enough manpower to respond to the additional fights and search for the alleged subject with a firearm.
Hamilton County dispatch also received calls from individuals inside the stadium advising subjects were saying they were going to "shoot the stadium up."
The two people thrown over the railing were not identified and never reported the incident while deputies were on the scene. The subject that was running with a firearm was not located. One adult female was injured during the fights and EMS responded to treat her injuries.
One man was arrested and transported to jail for disorderly conduct after he attempted to re-enter the stadium and tried to incite another fight at the gate.
In addition to the deputies hired to provide security, a large number of law enforcement personnel from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Chattanooga Police Department, and Red Bank Police Department responded to Finley Stadium to provide assistance during these events.
The graduation was able to conclude without any other major incidents and deputies remained on the scene until all of the people safely left the venue.
WATCH: Howard School's graduation ceremony
During Friday nights graduation ceremony, Dr. LeAndrea Ware, principal of Howard High school addressed the graduates.
Graduates this is your day. This is your day graduates. This is your day graduates. We will not let anything distract from your day. This is your day graduates and what we are going to do is present to you what you have earned," says Dr. Ware. "At this time graduates we are going to present to you what you have earned. What you have worked hard for. This day is all about you graduates, give it up for yourselves. We are here for you graduates. We are here for you graduates. We are not going to let any distraction stop your day. Parents we are here for these graduates and we're not going to let anybody take away from them.