Five West Hall High School students, who are documented members of the street gang BOE, were charged with battery and violating the street gang and terrorism act after a fight at the school Monday, according to the county's Gang Task Force officials.

The Hall County Sheriff's school resource officer held the two adult and three juvenile offenders at the school before they were charged, said Lt. Scott Ware, the Gang Task Force commander.

"A juvenile individual, age 16, had his birthday and the five charged decided to play a game where they hit him one time for each year old he was," Ware said. "They began to hit him, and he hit back. It escalated and they pretty much beat him up."

Violation of the street gang and terrorism act includes violent actions that promote criminal activity of a gang, Ware said.

Nixon Cruz, 17, of Honduras, and Jonathon Rodriguez, 18, of Mexico - both residents of Gainesville - were booked at the Hall County Jail, and immigration holds were placed on them because of their suspected illegal residence in the U.S., Ware said. They will remain in custody until the case is closed, and if found guilty, may be deported, he said.

The three juvenile suspects, whose names were not released, are in custody at the Regional Youth Detention Center. The juvenile victim, who had minor injuries, is not involved in a gang, Ware said.

All five male students have been suspended from school, pending a tribunal hearing, said West Hall High Principal Greg Williams.

Ware asked students to report any signs of gang activity to officials.

"The school administration, as well as law enforcement, are proactive with the sense that the arrest was made quickly. This won't be tolerated," he said. "If there is any indication that there is bullying, threats or fights on school property, report it to a teacher or the school resource officer. It will be handled appropriately from there."