Four Heritage High students arrested following campus fight

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Four Heritage High School students were arrested today in connection with a fight on campus on Tuesday, police said.

All four are males – two seniors, one junior and one freshman – according to Menifee Police Department Captain Dave Gutierrez. They were identified in a video taken of the incident and were brought by their parents to the school, where they were arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall.

Gutierrez said the assault occurred during one of several fights during lunch period on Tuesday. Officers responding to reports of the fights were unable to identify any suspects, and no serious injuries were reported at the time. But police received a call Tuesday night from the parent of a male student who was treated at a hospital for serious head injuries, prompting further investigation.

Viewing video of the incident, officers originally identified five students as possible suspects of assault on the victim, but one was eventually eliminated from suspicion, Gutierrez said. The other four were booked on California Penal Code 243d – battery that causes serious bodily injury.

The victim was not admitted to the hospital but did require treatment for head injuries. No other serious injuries were reported as a result of the fights, and no other arrests have been made.

“We don’t normally make arrests after school fights, but because of the severity of the injury, with four students on one, arrests were made,” Gutierrez said. “We hope this sends a message that this kind of thing will not be tolerated.”

Menifee PD officers were on campus again today and no other incidents were reported. In addition to the fights, police presence was in response to threats made Tuesday via social media of a shooting. Police determined on Tuesday that the threat did not appear to be specific to Heritage High School and was not credible.