A ‘race-fueled’ brawl erupted between black and Somali students at a Minneapolis high school, it is claimed, leading to the arrest of at least two adults accused of joining in.
Abreeha Annalisa Smith, 22, and Latoys Renail Milon, 41, were arrested but later released without being charged after fights broke at St. Louis Park High School in Minnesota on Thursday.
The initial altercation erupted between a group of black and Somali students, it was claimed by CrimeWatchMinneapolis, but the situation escalated when parents, after they became aware of the incident, allegedly joined the fight alongside their children.
Latoys’ daughter, Sanaiah Milon, claimed she was punched to the floor and kicked by dozens of students earlier on Thursday because of ‘a personal beef’. She denied claims the brawl was racially-motivated, although the school is continuing to investigate it as such.
Sanaiah said she had a previous argument with a Somali student months prior. A counselor and school administrator intervened at the time, and Sanaiah said she thought the issue was solved.
She was alarmed when other students warned her that she was going to get ‘jumped,’ Sanaiah told KARE11 about the lead-up to Thursday’s attack.
‘And I got punched. And I got punched again from the other side. Then one student grabbed me by the neck and she tossed me and we were on the floor.
‘And it was just kicks, punches. In my head, it felt like it was going on forever. Like, I was just scared,’ she added.
Videos circulated on social media platforms show Sanaiah being thrown to the ground and kicked when she tried to fight back.
She was eventually rescued as a teacher pulled her away from the crowd, closing a door to the hallway. She sustained a swollen and bruised eye.
Class resumed after the intense fight, but as the final bell rang, the situation escalated when Latoys, accompanied by her older daughter, arrived on the scene.
The 41-year-old mother said: ‘All I was thinking is getting to my daughter. She needs help. She needs somebody.’
In a video that captures the second fight, a boy wearing a green puffer jacket can be seen knocked to the ground, circled by a few individuals who kicked him forcefully and strolled away.
Latoys, who had an active warrant for theft of services, was arrested and released in less than five hours.
Smith, the second individual taken into custody, was found to have an active felony warrant for aiding and abetting theft and two other ongoing cases related to theft.
St. Louis police said they believe the two individuals were ‘primarily responsible’ for the altercation.
Latoys said that she has not received any explanations from the school regarding the incident, including details about what triggers the alleged attack.
‘Now the way they’re trying to make it look like we’re the bad guys. It had nothing to do with race. I had nothing to do with anything. It was just trying to get to my daughter to make sure she’s OK,’ Latoys said.
Both Sanaiah and her mother denied that the fight was related to race, but a school district spokesperson said they are investigating ‘possible racial motivations.’
‘We are actively gathering information and working closely with law enforcement to understand the full scope of these incidents, including whether or not the incidents were racially motivated,’ the school said in a statement.
The high school cancelled all classes on Friday and remained closed to students, families and public.
The spokesperson emphasized that adults, who were not the high school’s employees, became involved into the fight and escalated the situation.
They also disclosed both staff and students suffered injuries, including scrapes and bruises, and were seen by the school nurse.
‘As of now, there is no confirmation about the involvement of weapons in either altercation,’ the spokesperson said.
They also said additional layers of safety will be in place when students return to school next week.
But Sanaiah said she will never go back.
She said St. Louis Park High School is no longer a safe place for her to go. ‘Not after what happened yesterday,’ she added.
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
