McDonough students charged in 'fight club' related robbery, assault

On March 19, school administrators at Maurice McDonough High School alerted a school resource officer of an assault and robbery that occurred inside a bathroom during school hours connected with what police called a "fight club" within the school.

Upon being notified, a school resource officer initiated an investigation that revealed the student was in a school bathroom when two other students entered, allegedly assaulted him and went through his pockets, a press release from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office says.

The students who allegedly assaulted him were looking for money but instead stole a cellphone, the release said.

The investigation also said the two students purposely targeted the student believing the student was in possession of cash as a result of winning previous, pre-arranged fights that occurred at the school, the press release said.

It was believed that the winnings were from a “fight club” — where students place bets on each other in brawls, according to the press release.

After consulting with the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office, the school resource officer charged the two students with second-degree assault and robbery.

One of the students who was allegedly an assailant, Devon Murray, 19, has a hearing scheduled for April 8. The other student is a juvenile and was not identified by the sheriff's office or in charging papers.

The students will also face disciplinary consequences from the Charles County Public Schools, and the investigation will continue.

Anyone with information about this case or “fight clubs” within the school is asked to contact Cpl. Virts of the sheriff's office at 301-609-3282, ext. 0504.