Fight Draws Police To Columbia High School In Maplewood

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — After Maplewood residents received an alert before 4 p.m. Thursday about a "large fight" at Columbia High School, the matter was resolved without arrests, Maplewood police officials said.

A message to residents telling them to avoid the area said, "Large fight at Columbia High School. Officers are currently on scene."

Police said that at 3:33 p.m. officers were dispatched to the corner of Valley Street and Parker Avenue, a corner near the school, after a report of a fight.

The officers determined that four Columbia High School Students were involved in a physical altercation, police said.

"The fight between the juveniles started during the school day and on social media," police said. "No weapons were involved, all refused medical attention, and all juveniles were released to a parent or to school administration."

No arrests were made, police said.

School District Responds

A district spokesperson said Friday, "There was an altercation that occurred off-campus involving CHS students and it was handled. The CHS administration will handle the situation via the District's Code of Conduct guidelines."

She said no letters were sent to the school community, as the incident didn't rise to the level of causing an alert.

The incident occurred two hours before a planned protest at the school starting at 5:30 regarding a student who was shot to death on a school athletic field in 2021.

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