Ten 'crew' girls charged in Manor brawl

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Officials charged 10 girls with misdemanors for their part in a series of fights at Manor High School on Monday, and authorities said they are part of a group of female students who refer to themselves as a "crew."

Shykeylay Lenette Babers and Lekeshia Jean Curtis, both 17 years old, are charged with the Class B misdemeanor of riot participation after officials said the two were involved in a courtyard assault that attracted other members of their group along with a mob of students - including some from a rival group.

The fights on Monday resulted in the school being on lockdown for a short period of time during the incident that spanned the school's courtyard area, the cafeteria, outside and into the hallways.

Eight other students were charged as juveniles, Travis County Sheriff's authorities said.

The Travis County Sheriff's Office said the two groups are constantly harassing, bullying and fighting each other, but the fight on Monday resulted in a broken cafeteria table and campus lockdown for a majority of the day while law enforcement and Manor ISD investigated the incident. 

Multiple fights were in progress when Travis County sheriff's deputies arrived at the school Monday morning, and they spread out like random wildfire across the school.

"When we got out to the scene, we were confronted with what can be described as a state of confusion," said Capt. Art Cardenas, with the Travis County Sheriff's Office. "We had staff trying to get control of students."

Authorities used pepper spray to diffuse the mob of students after they would not respond to loud verbal commands from staff and police to go to classes.

Reports from school staff and a review of school video surveillance showed Curtis and Babers actively involved in fighting other juveniles part of their rival group, according to affidavits.

During the course of the riot, four teachers reported being assaulted or injured. A deputy had to be transported to the hospital for treatment.