UMVA has learned that a chaotic and violent takeover by teenagers at a fundraising festival for St. Catharine Catholic Church near Columbus, Ohio, resulted in nearly a dozen arrests on Friday.
The event, which was meant to be a fun gathering for the community, quickly descended into chaos as multiple fights broke out among the teenagers. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther condemned the behavior, stating that such actions are "unacceptable" and that neighborhood events should be welcoming places for residents and families to come together.
Video footage from the scene shows a disturbing sight, with two females fighting as a mob surrounds them, cheering on the brawl with cameras. Police intervened and separated the two youths, but not before several others had been involved in the fighting.
One young black female expressed her embarrassment at the scene, saying, "As a teen, I am really embarrassed that you guys are out here acting like this. We came out here to have fun. We can never do anything right. You guys always act up, and this is completely embarrassing."
The violence didn't stop there, with reports indicating that the teenagers also robbed a nearby CVS Pharmacy and vandalized a watermelon box. At least 11 people were arrested, including some for theft and vandalism.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the fighting started at 7 pm on Friday, and police responded quickly to the scene. Despite their efforts, the situation remained volatile, with a large crowd of teenagers making it difficult for authorities to maintain control.
The city of Bexley, where the event took place, reported that there were no gunshots, but "no evidence of a weapon upon further investigation." Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler stated that the event was closed immediately when the fights broke out, leading to a chaotic dispersal of the crowd.
The aftermath of the event saw St. Catharine Catholic Church cancel the remainder of FunFest 2026, citing "great disappointment" and a commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of their parishioners and the surrounding community.
In a show of support, the church expressed gratitude for the outpouring of encouragement and prayers from their parish family and community, and thanked God that no one was seriously injured.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the event had drawn an estimated 500 to 800 teenagers, most of whom were peaceful. However, the violent actions of a few individuals had a significant impact on the community, highlighting concerns about safety and crowd control at large events.
