Suffolk police break up 'fight club' in Shirley; 13 face charges

Suffolk County police responding to a report of possible shots fired broke up an unauthorized "fight club" and arrested 13 people in Shirley on Sunday night.

Officers arrived at a parking lot of the Brookhaven Aquatic Center on Francis Landau Place about 6 p.m. and came upon a scuffle that had broken out between some of those in attendance, police said.

One of the participants had brandished and discharged a blank-firing gun during the scuffle, injuring two males, ages 17 and 19; the victims were transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, police said.

Thirteen people were arrested. Detectives charged Devine Brown, 25, of Mastic Beach, with assault, menacing, prohibitive use of a weapon, and unlawful assembly, police said.

Brown pleaded not guilty at an arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Monday and was released with nonmonetary conditions, according to court records.

An attorney listed as representing Brown did not immediately return a phone message Monday evening seeking comment. 

Another 12 people, all Suffolk residents ranging in age from 16 to 20, were issued appearance tickets.

The incident marks the second time police have been called to break up a so-called "fight club" in Suffolk.

Three men were charged in June after police broke up an unauthorized afternoon brawl that drew about 70 people to Walt Whitman Park in Melville. That event was advertised on social media.

That gathering comprised mainly young adults in their early 20s, police said.

The "fight club" term emanates from the Chuck Palahniuk novel and subsequent 1999 movie of the same name about an underground fighting club whose first rule is to remain secretive.