An out-of-control, caught-on-camera brawl broke out between families over seating at a Catholic school’s kindergarten graduation in Ohio on Thursday, sending one woman to the hospital and another to jail.
Chaos ensued at the Queen of Apostles School in Toledo, Ohio Thursday morning when one family reportedly began hoarding rows of seats for themselves, witnesses told WTVG.
Jessica Anderson, 28, allegedly started cursing out befuddled parents who tried to take some of the seats she was accused of hogging.
Another parent of a graduating student, Craig Mays, told the outlet that he tried to calm Anderson down, but could only get a few words out before her family jumped him.
“As I’m arguing with Jessica, I literally don’t remember anything, I just know I was sucker-punched,” Mays said.
He said that five men in Anderson’s extended family surged out of their seats and dogpiled on him.
The wild video obtained by the outlet showed several people pummeling a man who lay prone on the ground while others tried to yank them all apart.
When Mays’ ex-partner tried to step in, Anderson allegedly snagged her by the hair and dragged her away — as captured on video by horrified bystanders.
The two women fought off to the side, each grasping the other by the hair and repeatedly pounding their heads. Mays’ former partner appeared to slam her face into a metal chair while Anderson shoved her away from the larger brawl, according to the video.
The woman was later hospitalized and required stitches, according to an affidavit obtained by WTOL 11.
Anderson was arrested and charged with felonious assault.
The children were rehearsing for their highly anticipated graduation ceremony in a separate room when the fight broke out. The school assured that all the students were safe and carried on with their last day of school celebrations as usual.
It’s unclear if the school will attempt to host another graduation ceremony for the tykes. Mays, who teaches kindergarten at a separate school, is hoping for the best.
“I know how hard those kids work, I know how hard those teachers work, for us to ruin it and be selfish like that, it literally breaks my heart that I can’t watch my daughter graduate today,” Mays told WTVG.
