What should have been a night of football at Spartan Stadium briefly turned tense after police were called to break up a fight involving two Notre Dame students.
Around 8:45 p.m., officers were alerted by a parent that their 12-year-old daughter had been punched in the face by another student. The girl appeared to have a swollen cheek.
Police located the other student involved—along with her 16-year-old sister—near the concession stand, where they were being confronted by the injured girl’s father. Officers quickly separated the parties, with one officer escorting the father and his daughter away while another stayed with the other students.
The second girl told police the conflict started when the other student “got in her face” and admitted there was an ongoing history of disputes between them.
School Steps In
Because both students are minors and the incident occurred at a Notre Dame school event, police turned the matter over to school administration. Officers contacted Father Smith, who was given all relevant information and agreed the school would handle the situation internally.
The alleged aggressor was sent home with her parents, and no charges were filed. Officers also spoke with her parents before the family left the stadium without further incident.
A Reminder
Police noted that tensions can flare quickly at school events, and situations like this highlight the importance of keeping parents and school staff in the loop so conflicts can be resolved safely.