'Fight club' under investigation at Maryland high school: 2 arrested

POMFRET, Md. - Detectives in Charles County are investigating the existence of a "fight club" at Maurice McDonough High School. 

Students at the school are allegedly arranging fights and making bets on who will win or lose. 

The situation came to light Tuesday after administrators alerted a School Resource Officer at McDonough of an assault and robbery that had taken place inside a bathroom. 

The incident is believed to have occurred during school hours. A preliminary investigation by detectives with the Charles County Sheriff's Office revealed that three students were involved. 

'Fight clubs' allegedly being held inside McDonough High School bathrooms. Photo via McDonough High School.

Two students, according to the sheriff's office, assaulted and robbed another student as he entered the bathroom. They're also accused of going through the student's pockets and stealing a cell phone. 

Detectives said that the two students "purposely targeted" their classmate because they believed the student had won cash from previous "fight club" bouts. 

In a letter sent home Thursday, Principal Darnell Russell said the cell phone was later returned. He also asked parents to talk to their children about resources available at the school and to let them know that assaulting others, whether in a joking or serious manner, is not appropriate. 

"I ask that you please encourage your child to report to an administrator any issues they are having with others, including physical altercations, so we can investigate and address the matter as quickly as possible," the letter reads. 

"It's a good school, it's a really good school," said parent Carolyn Duke. "My daughter goes here, but I don't know why somebody would do that. I don't know why they would do something like that."

Two McDonough High School students are now facing second-degree assault and robbery charges and will also receive consequences from Charles County Public Schools. 

The sheriff's office is still investigating this incident, and they're asking anyone with information about this case or the "fight clubs" at the school to reach out to them. 

Charles County Public Schools superintendent Maria V. Navarro issued the following statement: "CCPS is aware of information circulating about planned fights among students. CCPS is working with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office to investigate a fight that reportedly occurred at Maurice J. McDonough High School earlier this week to determine if this incident does or does not involve such behaviors. The sheriff’s office released a news brief yesterday about the incident, but we are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the reported fight or fights. McDonough administrators shared an update with the school community, asking for support from staff, students and parents in reporting unsafe behaviors. This type of behavior is not reflective of the McDonough school community or culture, or that of any other CCPS school or center. Every student deserves to come to school each day in a safe and welcoming learning environment. The majority of our students make the right choices each day, which is to come to school prepared to learn, thrive and grow. Students need to understand that when they resort to assaulting or fighting with others, whether they agree to this behavior or not, they are posing a safety risk to all students. This is not acceptable behavior for any student attending a CCPS school. We have asked school administrators to enhance their visibility during lunch shifts, class transitions, in between classes and during any other times when students are not required to be in classrooms learning. Administrators have ramped up hallway monitoring, as well as being mindful of the number of students in a restroom at one time.Any student involved in activities such as setting up physical altercations, regardless of the intent or purpose, faces disciplinary consequences outlined in the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Code of Student Conduct. These consequences include not only suspension from school, but charges by police when possible. These are serious consequences and students need to understand this type of behavior will not be tolerated.I ask that any parent, student or staff member who has information about such activities involving any CCPS student to please report it to a school administrator, through our anonymous online See Something, Say Something platform or to police. I also encourage parents to be mindful of the content their child may be capturing with their cell phones, and further sharing it on social media. As with any report involving unsafe or inappropriate behaviors by students or staff, CCPS will follow its standard investigation procedures to investigate and involve external agencies when necessary."

Read the full letter sent to McDonough High School parents below: 

FOX 5's Homa Bash contributed to this report.