Video Captures Brawl Over Seating at High School Graduation

A Georgia high school graduation ceremony last Friday night erupted into chaos after a brawl involving parents and police, captured on cellphone video, broke out there.

During the tense standoff at Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia, an officer used a Taser to subdue a combative man who was later arrested, the Fulton County School System school district said. The standoff took place in the school's gymnasium.

"There was pushing and shoving, don't push me, don't push you," parent Janelle Carter told ABC Atlanta affiliate WBS-TV. "Next thing you know, swings, arms, fists."

Police referred questions to the school district and it was not clear if there were any injuries.

The commotion started after the ceremony, which was scheduled to take place outdoors on the school's stadium grounds, was moved indoors due to rain. Some parents say emotions ran high after the gym became packed to capacity and those who were late were turned away.

"This is ridiculous," parent Wajeedah Price told WBS-TV. "This is a once in a lifetime moment, and we can't see our kids graduate."

Others said they arrived two hours before the 7:30 p.m. event started, and found they were still too late.

"I was here at 5:30 p.m., and we still couldn't get in," parent Chet Boykin said. "They should've stopped it and scheduled it for another day."

There were enough seats for all, Susan Hale with the school district's communications department told ABC News on Monday.

People might have been turned away "if they were not going to the appropriate entry door," Hale said. "That could have been it."

"Historically, graduation ceremonies at Tri-Cities have drawn about 3,500 guests in attendance," read a statement ABC News obtained from the school district on Monday. "The school gym has a capacity of 2,400 and two additional viewing areas were arranged with large screens and speakers. The two viewing areas combined had capacity for around 1,400 people - bringing the total seating to about 3,800."

Some people have taken to social media to voice their sides of the story.

"This school had tickets for their ceremony so if someone couldn't see it, it was because they did not have a ticket," Courtney Juice posted on Facebook. "Not only that, don't blame the school for the ignorance of an individual..."

"I would probably be fighting mad if someone told me I couldn't see my child graduate," Julie Winchester chimed. "I think the schools need to come up with a better plan in case of rain because this happens every year..."

Hale said investigations are underway to determine what led up to the incident.