5 arrested as fight disrupts Kings Canyon graduation ceremony

Five people were arrested Tuesday after two separate fights erupted during Kings Canyon Unified School District's alternative education graduation ceremony at Reedley High School, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

The brawls — captured on cell phone video as diplomas were being awarded at the stadium — raised fresh concerns about security at public graduation ceremonies and left at least one graduate without his diploma.

Cell phone footage captured the moment two young men began exchanging punches as graduates' names were being called on the football field. Two additional people joined the initial confrontation before it subsided, then a second brawl involving more attendees broke out, with an attendee in a brown shirt also seen striking another person, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Adam Velasquez, 19, was among those arrested. His family told ABC7 the confrontation began when another graduate made an unprovoked insult about Velasquez's late brother as he stood in line waiting to receive his diploma. Velasquez did not receive his diploma as a result of the arrest. His family said the incident was not gang-related.

"The whole point of graduating high school is to learn to become a better person as well. I think they should've done better. They should've known," said Luis Tapia, a Parlier resident who witnessed the incident, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Police officers and district administrators quickly intervened, and the ceremony continued with minimal further disruption, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

A second graduation ceremony was held Wednesday evening at Reedley High School's theater. Orange Cove resident and parent Curtis Wood addressed those gathered, urging respect for the occasion. "You got to respect everybody here. It's a family event. Whatever issues you have, whatever is going on, leave it at the door," Wood said.

Wood added: "We got women here, we got kids here. Everybody's here. This is their time. It's not ours, it's not about us. It's not about our problems. It's about them succeeding."

Security measures and a swift police response were credited with containing the situation. Wednesday evening's ceremony at the school's theater proceeded without incident, giving graduates and their families a chance to mark the milestone without further disruption.