Students Threatened; Police Say Fight Wasn't 'Racially Charged'

WAUKESHA, WI — Authorities in Waukesha say students at Waukesha North High School have been receiving threats after a fight that happened on Monday night on Sunset Drive was originally reported as being racially-charged.

Waukesha Police say the fight, which was initially reported by FOX-6 in Milwaukee as racially-motivated, just wasn't the case.

"This media release is being pushed out due to many un-involved student athletes at North High School receiving threats," Waukesha Police Lieutenant Jerry Habanek said Wednesday night. "This was not a racially motivated fight as it was portrayed in this story."

The FOX-6 report characterized Monday's fight outside the Orange Leaf yogurt shop as a "hate-filled fight with hair pulling and racial slurs." In the report, 15-year-old Jaylen Hughes sat down with his mother Athena Bernal as he re-told his recollections, including bloodied shoes, hair pulling, tacking him to the ground and piling on.

Waukesha Police released a different story about Monday night's incident. "Initial media reports indicated that the race of the 17-year-old and 15-year-old male caused this fight," police officials said. "Through ongoing investigation, watching video and with the help of School Resource Officers we learned that there were no racial slurs that were uttered before the fight by the 17-year-olds."

Police said Rather the fight was due to a 15-year-old, damaging the vehicle of a 17-year-old. The only racial slurs that were used were uttered by the 15-year-old before the fight, police said.

Waukesha police said five 17-year olds were arrested, and believe that they tried to leave this situation peacefully before the 15-year-old damaged their car. The physical interaction occurred after the 15-year old threw food on and hit the 17-year old’s vehicle.

"This is being portrayed in the media as a racially motivated fight, and that the 17-year olds beat up the 15-year-old due to his race," police said Wednesday night. "We have not found that to be the case. Throughout our investigation, we have determined that the actions, and racial insults said by the 15-year-old are what instigated this fight. The 15-year-old was arrested in this matter due to his behavior."