Fridley basketball player attacked with pipe during game in New Hope, five arrested

A Fridley High School basketball player is recovering from his injuries after he was attacked by five assailants during a game Tuesday night.

New Hope police arrested three adults and two juveniles in connection with the incident, which unfolded at Cooper High School shortly after the varsity boys basketball game between the Fridley Tigers and host Hawks began.

Three adults, a 19-year-old from Circle Pines and two 18-year-olds from Brooklyn Park, were booked into the Hennepin County jail on probable cause of riot. They remained in custody Wednesday morning.

Two juveniles were released to their parents or guardians, said New Hope Police Chief Tim Hoyt.

The five entered the gym and struck the player who was sitting on Fridley bench “with an object” believed to have been a pipe, Hoyt said.

“This was not random,” Hoyt said. “We know why it happened,” the chief added but said he could not say more about the attack.

Paramedics arrived to render aid to the student at the scene before taking him to a medical facility, Hoyt said. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known.

None of the parties involved were Cooper High students or enrollees in the Robbinsdale Area Schools, according to a letter sent to Cooper families by the district. The letter initially said six people were taken into custody.

School resource officers on site took immediate action, and coaches moved student athletes to safety, the letter said. The gym was placed on lockdown, and spectators remained inside until it was lifted, the letter said.

The attackers left the school and were arrested by New Hope police a short time later, the letter said.

“We are grateful for the swift actions of our SROs, coaches, athletic director and support staff who did an outstanding job keeping everyone calm during the situation,” the letter said. “We remain committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for our school community.”

The game was postponed.