Melee Erupts at Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK – Teenagers brawled in the stands at a high school basketball game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, leading police to crackdown on the melee, which spilled into the streets.

Gunfire was heard as the crowd went from the arena to Times Square, police said. No injuries were reported. Twelve people were arrested for misdemeanors, police said.

A WCBS-TV camera crew inside Madison Square Garden caught images of fights breaking out in the stands, including a girl slapping a boy, who in turn hit her. Other boys then jumped him, and police intervened.

One fan is shown in the WCBS-TV footage being struck by police officers with billy clubs.

After the crowd spilled into the streets surrounding Madison Square Garden, police used crowd control tactics, including officers on horseback and in riot gear.

The Public Schools Athletic League’s AA division city championship high school basketball game was between Brooklyn rivals Lincoln and Boys & Girls.

The fights broke out in the third quarter, distracting and displacing many in the crowd, the New York Times said Monday. Madison Square Garden had expected 13,826 people at the game, which Lincoln won 77-50.