A night that was supposed to be all about college graduates, suddenly took a turn for the worse.
"Everybody was acting like animals," says Victor Ferreira, of Bridgeport. "Throwing chairs and throwing stuff at each other."
Three people have been charged for their role in a massive brawl that broke out at CT State Gateway's graduation ceremony at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport Thursday night.
Video obtained by News 12 shows the chaotic scene.
"Aw man, no," a man can be heard saying. "Put that chair down!"
Bridgeport police didn't say why it started, but authorities claim it involved at least two unrelated families.
Two of the three people arrested, police say, were charged with assault of a public safety officer.
"I used to watch a lot of WWE as a kid," says Lambert Shell, of Bridgeport. "This video is insane."
In a statement, the school says the ceremony was briefly put on pause and resumed again after those involved were removed.
"CT State prioritizes the safety of its students and their guests and is committed to providing a secure environment at all college events," the statement said in part.
Angie Pichardo, of Bridgeport, says she was disappointed by the actions of some of those who were caught on camera.
"It's a graduation," says Pichardo. "It's supposed to be a celebration, and people should be celebrating the kids."