Floyd, Christiansburg students face mob charges (2024)

Doug Thompson For The Floyd Press

Escalating violence involving teenagers, driven by social media and in some cases their parents, at the picnic area of Floyd’s United Methodist Church on May 8 and 9 resulted in injuries and multiple arrests.

The gatherings involved students at Christiansburg High School who came to Floyd to “settle things” about a co-ed at their school dating a student at Floyd County High.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Branscom said Tuesday that the students from Christiansburg gathered in the parking lot and picnic area at the rear of the Methodist Church after school let out on May 8, but found themselves overwhelmed by the Floyd students in numbers and left to return to Christiansburg after some shoving and fighting.

Most of the students were 16- and 15-year-old juveniles, he said, and no serious injuries were reported.

But arguments and debates apparently increased on social media sites used by the Christiansburg group and they challenged Floyd students to a return bout on May 9, again at the area behind the Methodist Church.

Branscom showed videos of the two altercations including one from the onsite camera of the church and another shot by an adult who saw the second gathering picking up more steam. He said the students involved from both the schools were “about 20” with Christiansburg’s students facing a different group of Floyd students waiting at their church on May 9.

Branscom said the young lady from Christiansburg’s school was not present on either day and the male student and former boyfriend in Christiansburg did not appear at the second gathering.

The videos showed two cars, one an SUV, pulling into the parking lot at the church on May 9, followed by a rush of pushing and shoving, punches thrown and other mayhem as the students kicked an older man on the ground, and a young boy was being stomped on as he was on his back on the pavement.

“A shoulder injury required attention by rescue squads called to the church and a student reported an injury to his foot,” Branscom told the court. Scrapes bruises were more prevalent at the second set of fights, he added.

He told the court that arrests of more than 20 juveniles have been arraigned in District and Juvenile Courts, but the adults involved are expected to appear in Circuit Court in June or July.

While the juveniles, parents and other adults were arraigned last week with many jailed, the first case involving one of the parents reached the Floyd County Circuit Court Tuesday, and Judge Mike Fleenor denied bail.

The parent, Chelsea Nicole Price, 29, told the court that she worked at Virginia Tech, and sought bail after admitting she drove a group that included her children, to the church on the second day, May 9, primarily to look out for her children.

Her attorney, Brad McConnell told the court that she was a mother with a good job.

Branscom opposed bond for Price and, he added, any of the others charged in the event. Judge Fleenor agreed and denied bond.

A stationary camera the church showed a woman that the Commonwealth’s Attorney identified as Price taking what appeared to be a tire iron from the rear of the SUV she was driving. No injuries were reported from at this point from any use of a tire iron.

Branscom said four Floyd County deputies, two Virginia State Police officers and four deputies from Montgomery County helped deal with the action.

With many of the defendants are juveniles under the age of 18, they cannot appear in a public court or be identified.

Branscom said that other arrests may be coming as investigations continue and he expects anyone involved in the incidents be charged with participating in violence by a mob.

“These incidents involve an unacceptable number of our school children engaging in violent acts driven by those who use social media to inflame opinions and anger. Those who participate should understand that Floyd County will not accept this as normal behavior,” he told the court.

Judge Fleenor, in denying bomb for Price, said those who participate in such acts must accept responsibility for them.

Some of those arrested identified themselves as parents or grandparents of the children involved in the events.

In other cases, before the court Tuesday:

The bulk of cases set for Tuesday were continued for various reasons.