Police said three teenagers were treated for minor injuries after adults joined a postgame fight.
WYANDANCH, N.Y. — Two Long Island parents were arrested after police said they joined a fight involving teenagers after a varsity girls flag football game Thursday evening at Wyandanch Memorial High School.
The fight followed a game between Wyandanch Memorial High School and Southampton High School, according to Suffolk County police. Investigators said the altercation began among players before two adults became involved. The arrests turned a school sports dispute into a criminal case involving allegations of child endangerment, harassment, a knife threat and a threat of mass harm.
Police said the fight broke out at about 6:15 p.m. Thursday after the varsity-level game at Wyandanch Memorial High School on South 32nd Street. Shalaya Gatlin, 37, and Jonathan Perez, 35, both of Shirley, were later arrested. Police said Gatlin punched a 16-year-old girl in the chest, punched another 16-year-old girl in the face and threatened a 15-year-old girl. Perez is accused of fighting with a 16-year-old boy, threatening people with a knife and threatening to shoot up the school. Three 16-year-old victims were treated for minor injuries, police said.
Gatlin was charged with three counts of second-degree harassment and three counts of acting in a manner to injure a child. Perez was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, making a threat of mass harm, third-degree menacing, second-degree harassment and acting in a manner to injure a child. Police did not say what caused the first fight between players, whether the knife was recovered or whether any students also may face school discipline. Both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The incident drew concern from both school communities because it happened after an athletic event involving teenagers. In a message to families Friday, Wyandanch Superintendent Dr. Erik Wright called it “an unfortunate altercation” involving members of both teams and parents from the opposing team. Wright said police responded to the scene and the district was cooperating while reviewing the matter internally. He said athletics should support teamwork, leadership and school pride, and that the district expects students, families and spectators to help keep events safe and respectful.
Girls flag football has grown quickly in New York high schools in recent years, giving more students a spring team sport and creating new matchups among districts. Southampton’s program was in its first season this spring, while Wyandanch’s program had already been competing for several seasons. The Thursday game placed the two Suffolk County schools on the same field before the postgame fight moved attention away from the teams and toward police, school safety and adult conduct at youth sports events.
Video reported by local media showed a chaotic scene, with students screaming as people struggled and fell near the field. Police reports released Friday focused on the criminal allegations against the two adults and did not give a full play-by-play of the fight. Authorities also did not release the names of the injured teenagers because they are minors. The school campus remained the central location in the investigation, and police said the arrests followed the disturbance at the field.
The next step in the case is arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip. Police said Gatlin and Perez would appear at a later date, but an exact court date was not listed in the initial release. Court filings may provide more detail about what investigators say happened after the game, whether any weapon was seized and what statements police collected from students, parents, coaches or spectators. School officials are also expected to continue their own review of conduct connected to the game.
By Saturday, police had identified the adults charged, listed the criminal counts and confirmed that three teenagers received treatment for minor injuries. The cause of the original fight and the full school response remained under review.
Author note: Last updated May 9, 2026.