Armed high school youth gang targets JPC students

Rotorua police had to defuse an incident that could have led to a fatal assault when they intercepted an armed group of high school students on their way to "deal to" students from another school.
On Wednesday afternoon, weapons, including a filleting knife, wheel brace and an iron bar, were found on students wearing Rotorua Boys' High School uniforms who were walking home through the John Paul College grounds.
It is understood the Year 10 students were carrying the weapons after one of them was assaulted by a group of senior students at John Paul College the day before.
The principals from both schools have blamed the influence of youth gangs for the flare-up.
John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh said some of the Boys' High School students were wearing red and making gang signals at his students.
"We are very pleased the police intervened, as the situation had the potential to become very serious. One of those students could have been seriously assaulted or even killed," Mr Walsh said.
It is understood that police intercepted the Boys' High School students near the John Paul College car park on Wednesday, defusing what could have been a serious assault.
Mr Walsh said the incident was sparked by an attack on Tuesday when one of the Boys' High School students allegedly produced a knife.
"The following day a group of [Boys' High School] students returned and the police were waiting for them.
"They found a knife, a wheel brace and an iron bar," he said.
Rotorua Boys' High School principal Chris Grinter told The Daily Post both schools were taking the incident seriously and were working closely with each other and the police to resolve the situation.
"This was clearly part of a youth gang culture that exists in this town.
"We believe we have resolved it but unfortunately the youth gang culture flows into school life from time to time," Mr Grinter said.
He said at least one of the people being questioned by police was not a student at either school.
Mr Grinter said the school was dealing with the students involved and was "working with some of our boys on the fringe of this youth gang culture".
"It's great we were able to move quickly and prevent an escalation," Mr Grinter said.
Mr Walsh said the school was doing all it could to protect its students after an incident last year that left one of its Year 10 students with a broken jaw in an unprovoked attack.
"It definitely takes it to another level when weapons are involved," Mr Walsh said.
Rotorua police Senior Sergeant Dennis Murphy said police were told of an altercation between students from the two schools on Tuesday.
He said by Wednesday afternoon police had identified the students involved and had spoken to both principals.
Mr Murphy said he could not release any further information as the police investigation was still continuing.
"But we are hoping for a quick resolution to the matter. The important thing is that we have identified those involved," he said.