What's assault vs. Guys just fighting?

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

I'll preface this by saying I don't know the details and I'm not trying to minimize what may have happened.

When did guys having a fist fight turn into assault? If two guys or a group of guys are fighting it appears that the loser or losers get to claim assault. I mean, in any fight someone has to throw the first punch. Is that automatically assault? Everyone here has probably been in a fight, you win some, you lose some. The fact that you may wind up with a broken jaw does not mean it should be assault...you just lost.

If this situation is a matter of 5 Rutgers players just unilaterally picking out another group and just decided to attack without warning....that's assault.

 

[Tango Two]

Fighting is simple assault. The broken jaw ups it to aggravated assault.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Fighting is simple assault. The broken jaw ups it to aggravated assault.

So if were were in a fight...we can both get charged with assault? What's going on....do we have to make a formal announcement...okay, we begin to fight on the count of 3.

 

[Tango Two]

So if were were in a fight...we can both get charged with assault? What's going on....do we have to make a formal announcement...okay, we begin to fight on the count of 3.

Yes both can be charged with simple assault.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Yes both can be charged with simple assault.

Maybe I should turn myself in....I had my share of old fashioned fist fights in my day

 

[Tango Two]

Usually your not charged. The cops take a report and tell you if you want to sign a complaint against the other guy see the court clerk.

 

[BigEastPhil]

Please don't defend football players for getting into fights.

First of all, they're physical specimens who can do severe physical damage and secondly they should know better and avoid these type of confrontations.

Lastly, they were arrested because police have probable cause that they were engaged in assault and rioting and furthermore when 2 of the players - Peele and Barnwell - have dubious pasts - I don't think this was just a random 1 on 1 fight.....

 

[S_Janowski]

This incident is way less severe than what Boggs/Johnson were involved BUT how stupid could they be especially after seeing what happened to Nelson, one of their former teamates. It take one punch in the right place to knock someone out cold and severely hurt someone.