Shalaya Gatlin and Jonathan Perez charged after Wyandanch HS flag football fight

A girls varsity flag football game in Wyandanch turned violent Thursday when two parents got involved in a fight among the players, leading to their arrests, Suffolk police and school officials said.

The fight occurred around 6:15 p.m. after a match between Southampton High School and Wyandanch Memorial High School, according to police.

Shalaya Gatlin, 37, of Shirley, allegedly punched two 16-year-old females, one in the chest and another in the face, and threatened a 15-year-old female, according to police.

Meanwhile, police said Jonathan Perez, 35, of Shirley, allegedly got into a "physical altercation" with a 16-year-old male, police said in the release. He also allegedly threatened people with a knife and to open fire at the school.

The victims were treated for minor injuries, police said.

Gatlin was charged with three counts of harassment and three counts of acting in a manner to injure a child. Perez was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, making a threat of mass harm, menacing, harassment and acting in a manner to injure a child.

The two will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date, police said. They could not be reached for comment and It was not immediately clear if they were represented by counsel.

Police did not say what teams the parents were affiliated with.

'An unfortunate incident'

Tom Combs, the executive director of Section XI, which governs Suffolk's interscholastic sports, blamed adults connected to the Southampton school for starting the confrontation.

“An unfortunate incident occurred approximately 15 minutes after the conclusion of the Wyandanch-Southampton flag football game," said Combs. "Two Southampton adults aggressively approached the Wyandanch coaching staff and players and started a physical altercation."

In a letter to Section XI Athletics, Wyandanch's director of athletics, Ty Scarlett, said a player on the Southampton team shouted “an inappropriate and unsportsmanlike comment toward the Wyandanch coaching staff" at the end of the game.

Scarlett said when staff and athletes were exiting the field area, the same player, along with people believed to be her parents, “began yelling aggressively toward Wyandanch players, staff, and spectators.”

The situation then took a turn for the worse when, he wrote, “two adults associated with the Southampton side aggressively approached Wyandanch athletes and spectators who were attempting to leave the area, resulting in a physical altercation.”

Erik Wright, the Wyandanch superintendent, told parents in a letter that players from both teams were involved in the confrontation along with "parents of the opposing team."

Wright added, "We expect all of our scholars, families, and spectators to contribute to an environment that is safe, respectful, and supportive for everyone involved. Incidents such as this serve as an important reminder that emotions should never overshadow the values we aim to model for our students."

He said the district is reviewing the incident.

A spokeswoman for the Southampton district declined to respond to allegations that the parents involved were linked to their team.

Southampton Superintendent Fatima Morrell sent parents a letter Friday lamenting the conduct displayed.

“The behavior displayed is disappointing and not reflective of the values of respect, sportsmanship and character we strive to instill in our students,” Morrell said, adding the district is also reviewing the incident.

“School events, including athletics, should remain positive experiences that bring communities together. We will continue emphasizing appropriate conduct and respectful interactions at all athletic events and school activities,” Morrell wrote in the letter.