Massive Teen Brawl at Masik Tas Sparks Ongoing Investigation, Says Ak-Chin

Authorities are investigating a large teen brawl that occurred during the 17th annual Masik Tas carnival at the Ak-Chin Circle on Saturday night. The event, which was designed to celebrate the Ak-Chin holiday, was abruptly evacuated around 10 to 10:30 p.m. due to the escalating unrest.

Attendees reported feeling panic over the evacuation. One participant described the scene as “freaky.” The carnival was originally scheduled to continue until 11 p.m., but safety concerns led to an early closure.

Elvia Aburto, a Senita resident, shared her experience, stating, “It closed early due to kids fighting last night and today.” Matthew Benson, the spokesman for Ak-Chin, acknowledged that disturbances occurred but indicated that police were still determining the specifics of the event. He noted that no further comments could be made at this time as the investigation continues.

Large brawls among teenagers are becoming increasingly common on Ak-Chin land. This incident marks the third brawl reported this year alone. A separate incident at the Copper Sky event in March also involved youth violence, highlighting a troubling trend during large gatherings.

In May, a similar brawl was documented during a screening at the Ak-Chin Cinemas, where chaos erupted, and violence escalated in front of onlookers. This incident resulted in the Ak-Chin Circle implementing a new policy mandating that individuals under 18 be accompanied by an adult on weekend nights after 10 p.m. Ironically, Saturday night’s brawl began just before this policy took effect.

Past incidents have raised additional concerns. In July, a father reported that his daughter and a friend were attacked outside the Ak-Chin Cinemas, with one girl sustaining injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. Despite these alarming occurrences, local leaders and police have remained tight-lipped regarding their public safety strategies in light of the violence.

When asked about potential changes to security protocols, Benson did not provide a clear response. Additionally, Monica Williams, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa Police Department, stated that it was unclear if local officers were involved in breaking up the crowd, emphasizing that all inquiries about police action must come from the Ak-Chin authorities.