MEMPHIS, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Six students at a Memphis high school have been charged with killing another teenager in a gang initiation fight.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that Tarus Williams, 15, died in a restroom at Westside High School after collapsing. Authorities say that a ventricular wall in his heart ruptured.
Six boys ranging in age from 13 to 15 were arrested Thursday on charges of reckless homicide. Because of their age, the six will be tried as juveniles and can be held only to the age of 19.
An assistant district attorney acknowledged that the victim got into the fight voluntarily. A defense lawyer told the Commercial Appeal that the defendants did not intend any harm and described the gang as "more of a social club."
"For a social club it certainly had a violent initiation," District Attorney Bill Gibbons said.
