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Students say social media fueled brawl at school

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County students say social media helped fuel a brawl following a Friday night football game.

Students at Collins Hill High School said words were exchanged over Twitter with Peachtree Ridge High School students leading up to the rivalry.

Channel 2 Action News found some tweets that sparked the brawl involving 150 to 200 students near the Peachtree Ridge school stadium.

The student who was the most vocal from Collins Hill High school was spotted at the game.

"He was talking a lot of crap on Twitter and that got him a target on Twitter," said Collins Hill student Aaron Worthington.

Police said they had to pull 10 to 12 students off that student.

In the process, an officer was hit in the back of the head and another student was hospitalized after police hit him in the knee with a baton.

"It was kind scary. We were walking to the car, and then a mob of people were chasing after us," explained Kellie Murphy.

Gwinnett police said as soon as they broke up one fight, another would start.

After police got the multiple fights under control near the stadium, students said another one almost broke out at a nearby McDonald's. The meeting spots were being posted on Twitter according to some students.

"Twitter escalates the fighting because people will start saying stuff that will offend other people, and they'll start fighting after that," said Austin Pyles.

After the fighting stopped, one Peachtree Ridge student even apologized about what happened on Twitter tweeting: "On behalf of my school, I would like to apologize to @D_Mitch23, what happened was clearly unacceptable and I hope you are alright."

One student refused medical treatment near the stadium after police saw he had a swollen leg and eye. Gwinnett County Schools told Channel 2 Action News that their school resource officers are investigating and no disciplinary action has been taken.