Organizer rejects police description of Shirley event as a 'fight club,' says it was intended to stop gang violence

The organizer of what police called an unauthorized Shirley "fight club" where 13 people were arrested on Sunday said the event was intended to be a positive for the community.

Malachi Leftenant, 19, of Shirley, said it was supposed to be an organized boxing match to bring people "together."

"I just wanted the youth to come together," Leftenant said. "I just wanted to stop gang violence. I see a lot of shootings happening and a lot of kids losing their lives, so I wanted to teach them that instead of losing their life, they don't have to use a gun or go to jail."

Leftenant said that the event, which did not have a permit and was advertised as "Guns Down Gloves Up," required participants to be age 18 or older and to sign a waiver. He had used a flyer to attract participants online.

No one participating was younger than 18, Leftenant said.

About 10 participants fought those in their weight groups with referees supervising, Leftenant said. All fighters used boxing gloves, he said, adding that a crowd of at least 30 people watched and many shot videos.

"It wasn't like we had 200-pound people fighting 100-pound people," Leftenant said. "Everything was organized."

The event also advertised a prize of $500 or more, though Leftenant said that was drawn from a $20 per person fee for the contestants, so it actually would've been less than that. The event began at Heatherwood apartments in Center Moriches at 4 p.m. before moving to the Brookhaven Aquatic Center.

Suffolk police said officers came upon what they deemed the "fight club" in the parking lot at the aquatic center after responding to a report of possible shots fired around 6 p.m. on Sunday.

They arrived to find a scuffle had broken out, police said. One of the people attending the event brandished and discharged a blank-firing gun during the scuffle, according to police, injuring two males, ages 17 and 19. They were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to police.

Leftenant said the fights were going well until the gun incident. The group then dispersed in fear, running through the woods or through a hole in a nearby fence.

"At the time, nobody knew there were blanks. We all thought that it was a real gun, it sounds like a real gun," Leftenant said. "Everyone ran."

Detectives later 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.

After things calmed down, Leftenant said he and a friend returned to the scene and spoke with police, who informed him of permit requirements.

Leftenant said he was unaware he needed a permit to host the event, as he previously had organized a basketball game.

Suffolk police said they charged 13 people ranging in age from 16 to 20, including Leftenant, with unlawful assembly. Except for Brown, they were issued field or desk appearance tickets.

The 19-year-old said he plans to host another event in early August with the right permit requirements. If he hosts a boxing match in the future, he will rent an indoor ring and implement more security measures, he said.

Newsday's Lorena Mongelli contributed to this story.