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Senior Day pranks go wrong; possible criminal action pending at Miyamura High

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Areas of Gallup High left in shambles

GALLUP – A few seniors apparently took pranks a little too far on Senior Day this week and one area principal says he’ll find out if criminal charges are warranted as a result of the situation.

Jack McFarland of Miyamura High School said a pre-planned activity on April 19 whereby seniors engaged in pranks carried the matter over to some late night vandalism.

“It looks as though after these few people went home for the school day and after the planned activity, they came back to school and somehow got into the building,” he said. “We’re talking about no more than three, four, maybe five individuals.”

McFarland said two adults were supervising the activity and released people to go home about two hours after school was over. When the unknown culprits returned Tuesday at around 10:30 pm, they proceeded to apply glue to locks and break into at least one classroom, McFarland said. He said there are reports of stolen items, too. He estimated the total damage done at around $2,250, saying the school is in the process of coordinating disciplinary reports and is also contemplating criminal charges once an inventory of the situation is complete.

Additionally, Gallup Bengal footprints were spray painted on part of the asphalt in front of the school and a sign was hung that read “School for Sale.” Gallup and Miyamura are fierce rivals.

Gallup High School hit, too

Gallup High School Principal Kim Orr said students poured flour and eggs in common areas and at least in one classroom at Gallup High School.

Orr did not put an amount on the damage done, but said the school would end up using a significant quantity of manpower to clean up the mess.

She said she doesn’t believe neither of the incidents at either school was gang-related, saying the senior prank thing was taken a little too far.

“It happened very late in the evening or into the early part of the morning,” Orr said. “It wasn’t gang-related. We won’t file any kind of criminal charges. We don’t like it, but we understand that this was a case of students taking something a little too far.”

Orr said the ROTC group at the school would pitch in and assist in the cleanup. She said the ROTC students would receive some kind of credit for the cleanup.

Gallup Police Department Lt. Rosanne Morrissette said that no charges will be filed in the Gallup High incident, and said largely because there were no damages to the property.

“We did an initial report,” she said. “There was no property damage, but it was a mess.”

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent

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