IT ISN’T A GAME : Mater Dei Team Not Involved, but Others Hurt in Fight at New Jersey Tournament

At least five people were hurt, including a 21-year-old woman shot in the leg, when a fight broke out between Atlantic City youths Saturday at halftime of a national high school basketball tournament game between Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Calif., and Atlantic City High, authorities said Sunday.

None of the players were involved in the fight or injured. A crowd of about 1,350 people had packed the Holy Spirit High School gymnasium for the Seagull tournament game.

“It wasn’t a case of the fans of one team vs. fans of another team; it was a case of Atlantic City thugs fighting other Atlantic City thugs,” said James Whelan, an Atlantic City councilman who helped organize the tournament.

Dierdre Block of Atlantic City was listed in satisfactory condition Sunday at Atlantic City Medical Center with a gunshot wound above her left knee, Absecon detective Sgt. Ron Faisst said. The others injured Saturday suffered cuts and a head wound and were treated and released at nearby hospitals.

Block was hit by a bullet apparently intended for a member of one of the fighting factions, Faisst said. She was shot while trying to escape the fracas.

“We were coming out of the locker room after halftime and were sent back in for 20 minutes,” said Keith Labus, a reserve guard for Mater Dei. “It (the fight) was just starting as we came out and were going to the bench. We saw a few guys fighting on the court and were sent right back into the locker room.

“When we came out for second half again 20 minutes later, and they (tournament organizers) told us that there had been a fight between these gangs and that it had nothing to do with the game. We didn’t know what all had happened until today when we saw it on the news.”

Faisst said the youths, numbering about 50, were from two housing developments. Witnesses said some wielded broken bottles and knives.

An arrest warrant was issued Sunday for 19-year-old Tracy Mingo of Atlantic City, charging him with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, Faisst said.

Block was leaving with a group of people when it was confronted by the gunman, Faisst said. “He (the gunman) had words with a guy coming out of the gym,” Faisst said.

The man leaving the gym fled in the direction that Block was running, and the assailant apparently was aiming at him when Block was shot, the detective said.