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When a fight broke out near Kearns High School this morning, officers were there immediately to break it up.
The Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies have had more of a presence over the past couple of weeks because of a gang-related shooting that killed 16-year-old Esteban Saidi, but they say today's fight was not gang-related.
Turns out, it was just a fight between two students that drew a pretty big crowd. That's actually what tipped off neighbors who called the sheriff's office.
Officers got to the fight after some punches were thrown, but they equate the fight to "school drama." They told us the students confronted each other because of rumors they had heard and say it's something that happens all the time at high schools.
But, of course, everyone is on alert at this school and in this area, and officers and school authorities are taking everything seriously.
"I think everybody is more nervous in that particular area. And any time you get a large group of kids under their peers, there is some commotion. And you don't know how many people are involved or what it will escalate to," said Lt. Don Hutson, spokesman for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley said, "Any time you have a situation where there is potential for kids to get involved in a fight, whether it's gang-related or not, we don't take it lightly."
The two students who got in the fight have been suspended, as have some of the students who were watching the fight.
The Granite School District says the response just goes to show how committed law enforcement is to keeping students safe.
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
