A tense eviction attempt at a mobile home on Popcorn Road in Springville exploded into a sprawling brawl Thursday afternoon, leaving multiple people injured and several under arrest, according to law enforcement and court records. The fight reportedly featured an ax to the head, a thrown vape pen, biting and at least one knife wound.
Law enforcement and EMS rushed to the scene after two 911 callers reported a stabbing around 2:30 p.m. Detectives arrived to find six adults at the property, several of whom needed medical help, according to details in a probable-cause affidavit cited by WKRC Local 12.
How Investigators Say the Fight Started
According to a probable-cause affidavit outlined by WBIW, the chaos began when 30-year-old Brandon Gibson and his girlfriend, 25-year-old Mercedes Collins, tried to evict Gibson's mother, 54-year-old Jeanette Keel, along with Keel's friend, 60-year-old Jeffrey Davis, who had recently moved into the home.
Witness accounts and court papers say things escalated quickly. Keel allegedly threw a covered ax that hit Collins below the hairline. Collins allegedly responded by throwing a vape pen, and the two then struggled over control of the ax while others jumped into the fray, according to the affidavit as described by WBIW. The encounter reportedly involved biting and at least one person being stabbed.
Who Got Arrested and What They Face
Gibson, Keel and Collins were all taken into custody after the fight, and court documents indicate Davis will be arrested once he is medically cleared, according to WKRC Local 12.
Local reporting says Keel is facing felony battery and felony domestic-battery counts, along with a misdemeanor domestic-battery charge. Gibson was booked on charges of battery committed with a deadly weapon and battery with bodily injury, while Collins was booked on a battery charge, according to WKRC Local 12.
Injuries, Hospital Runs and Video Evidence
Medics treated Keel for a finger laceration that required stitches. Gibson was taken to IU Health Bedford with a stab wound, and Davis was transported to IU Health Bloomington after experiencing heart problems, according to WBIW.
Investigators also seized a cellphone that allegedly contains video of at least part of the brawl. Authorities are treating that footage as evidence as they work to sort out who did what in the crowded melee, WBIW reported.
What Comes Next in the Case
The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department has submitted a probable-cause affidavit, and the case is now in the hands of local prosecutors and the courts. Investigators say the probe remains active, and they have not ruled out additional arrests or charges as they review statements and evidence.
All of the individuals who have been arrested are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.
