Parents allegedly beat up high schoolers in Long Island girls flag football brawl

Nypost · May 09, 2026 · 314 words · By Katherine Donlevy

Criminal Allegations School Violence Youth Sports

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Generate a natural audio summary of this story

Daily briefing

What to know about Criminal Allegations

Parents allegedly beat up high schoolers in Long Island girls flag football brawl Two Long Island parents allegedly pulled a knife on a group of teens after joining a brawl that erupted at a girls high school flag football game.

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center50%

Right50%

2 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

Shalaya Gatlin and Jonathan Perez are accused of jumping into a melee that erupted between varsity-level players from Southampton and Wyandanch Memorial high schools on the latter’s home turf, Suffolk County Police said.

Common ground

Multiple students can be heard screaming in terror as the voice of an older man shouts and people slam one another to the ground, video obtained by News 12 showed.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Criminal Allegations story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Both parents, of Shirley, were charged with harassment and acting in a manner to injure a child, and Perez was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and making a threat of mass harm?
How does this story connect Criminal Allegations with School Violence over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/09/us-news/parents-arrested-after-joining-long-island…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5

info Single Source 3

check_circle

Claim 1: “Both parents, of Shirley, were charged with harassment and acting in a manner to injure a child, and Perez was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and making a threat of mass harm.”

CORROBORATED

Newsday and LongIsland.com both confirm the specific charges for both parents (harassment, acting in a manner to injure a child) and the additional charges for Perez (weapon possession, menacing, threat of mass harm).

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 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 i…
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/wyandach-flag-foot…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Perez, 35, of Shirley, was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree, Making a Threat of Mass Harm, Menacing 3rd Degree, Harassment 2nd Degree, and Acting in a Manner to Injure a Child.
https://www.longisland.com/articles/05-08-26/two-parents-arr…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — If convicted on the terrorism charge, Brown faces a 15-year minimum sentence under SB 1518, a Texas law passed in 2023, according to Hoodline. Federal and local authorities are still investigating the…
https://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/2026/05/04/woman-charg…

info

Claim 2: “The Southampton High School girls flag football team is celebrating its first-ever season this spring.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence discusses inaugural seasons for girls flag football in New Jersey and WPIAL, but does not mention Southampton High School's specific season status.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Its inaugural season will be during the 2026-2027 school year. After years of growth in New Jersey, the athletes were ready to be official. In 2026, the fourth year of the state’s pilot program – a st…
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/05/04…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Monday, New Jersey officially sanctioned girls high school flag football as an championship sport. Check out photos of girls flag being played at MetLife Stadium and 1JD through the years.
https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/new-jersey-sanctions-girls-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In the inaugural season that the WPIAL recognized girls flag football as a sanctioned sport, Shaler reigned supreme. The Titans defeated Plum, 34-0, Thursday night at Upper St. Clair High School and f…
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2026/05/07/footb…

info

Claim 3: “The three 16-year-old victims were treated for minor injuries.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While the LongIsland.com snippet mentions 'The three 16-year-old victims w...', the other provided search results for this specific claim are irrelevant (discussing different brawls in Montreal, Motherwell, and Cincinnati). Only one relevant source snippet supports this specific detail.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A 15-year-old boy was among the three people stabbed to death during a brawl on Tuesday night in a quiet residential neighbourhood of Montreal.The victims were transported to hospital but succumbed to…
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-three-people-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Police were called following reports of a large scale disturbance near to the White House Bar in Main Street in Motherwell at 12.35am this morning. The lad was then taken to the town’s Wishaw General …
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/sixteen-yea…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — US News: Holly, a key victim in the violent Cincinnati street brawl that went viral over the weekend spoke out for the first time after the incident, describin.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/still-recoverin…

check_circle

Claim 4: “Perez, 35, is accused of fighting with a 16-year-old boy, threatening people with a knife and to “shoot up the school,” the cops said.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report that Jonathan Perez, 35, fought a 16-year-old boy and made threats involving a knife and shooting up the school.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Facing the more serious allegations is Jonathan Perez, 35, of Shirley. Police said he became was fighting a 16-year-old boy before allegedly threatening people with a knife and making threats to “shoo…
https://greaterlongisland.com/wyandanch-southampton-flag-foo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Suspect, 14, and dad were known to FBI a year before school shooting.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/30261674/apalachee-high-school…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Get early access to audios, as well as audios exclusive to Patreon at:https://www.patreon.com/PineKatAudioPhoto by Moklebust used with permission...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclXfvc8RKM

check_circle

Claim 5: “Two Long Island parents allegedly pulled a knife on a group of teens after joining a brawl that erupted at a girls high school flag football game.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent news sources (MSN, LongIsland.com, and other web search results) report that two parents allegedly pulled a knife and joined a brawl at a girls high school flag football game in Long Island.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Two Long Island parents allegedly pulled a knife on a group of teens after joining a brawl that erupted at a girls high school flag football game. Shalaya Gatlin and Jonathan Perez are accused of ...
https://nypost.com/2026/05/09/us-news/parents-arrested-after…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Two parents were arrested for a brawl at a Long Island high school flag football game after one of them threatened to shoot up the school and the other punched two teen girls, police said Friday ...
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/wyandanch-high-flag-foo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A fight broke out between players from Southampton High School and Wyandanch Memorial High School following a varsity-level game between the schools and two parents became involved in the fight.
https://www.longisland.com/news/crime/

info

Claim 6: “Wyandanch is ranked 157th in the state, while Southampton is ranked 339th, according to MaxPreps.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results provided for this claim are irrelevant, discussing university rankings and general school district rankings, but do not provide MaxPreps rankings for the specific flag football teams mentioned.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — University Rankings And League Tables 2022.
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/r…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — View the 2026 top-ranked public schools in Wyandanch Union Free School District. Find rankings, test scores, reviews and more.
https://www.publicschoolreview.com/new-york/wyandanch-union-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Founded in 1862 as the Hartley Institution, the University of Southampton was granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 in one of her first official acts as monarch. Today the University h…
https://www.topuniversities.com/universities/university-sout…

check_circle

Claim 7: “Shalaya Gatlin and Jonathan Perez are accused of jumping into a melee that erupted between varsity-level players from Southampton and Wyandanch Memorial high schools on the latter’s home turf, Suffolk County Police said.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Shalaya Gatlin and Jonathan Perez were accused by police of joining a fight between Southampton and Wyandanch Memorial high school players at the latter's home turf.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The fight occurred around 6:15 p.m. after a game between Southampton High School and Wyandanch Memorial High School, according to police. It started with the players, and the parents then became embro…
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/wyandach-flag-foot…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Two parents arrested for fighting with teenagers during brawl at high school flag football game in Wyandanch. During the altercation, Jonathan Perez, 35, and Shalaya Gatlin, 37, both of Shirley, each …
https://longisland.news12.com/2026/05/08/2-parents-arrested-…

check_circle

Claim 8: “Gatlin, 37, allegedly punched one 16-year-old girl in the chest and another in the face, while also threatening a 15-year-old girl.”

CORROBORATED

Newsday and LongIsland.com both specifically report that Shalaya Gatlin, 37, allegedly punched two 16-year-old girls (one in the chest, one in the face) and threatened a 15-year-old girl.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Police said a fight broke out among players after the game before two adults allegedly joined the melee. Shalaya Gatlin, 37, of Shirley, punched a 16-year-old girl in the chest, struck another 16-year…
https://greaterlongisland.com/wyandanch-southampton-flag-foo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 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.
https://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/wyandach-flag-foot…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Shalaya Gatlin punched a 16-year-old female in the chest and another 16-year-old female in the face, and threated a 15-year-old female.The two will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Isli…
https://www.longisland.com/articles/05-08-26/two-parents-arr…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.