Courthouse brawl: Three arrested, charged with assaulting women at Durham Co. court hearing

Three people were arrested Monday after Durham County deputies said they assaulted two women after a hearing at the Durham County Courthouse.

According to the Durham County Sheriff's Office, a deputy was escorting two women after a hearing around 11 a.m. over concerns of potential retaliation from a prior incident. As they exited the courtroom, a group waiting in the hallway began assaulting the women.

During the fight, someone in the crowd used pepper spray, and more deputies were called to the fight.

Three people, 32-year-old Jellese Chance, 28-year-old Nickitta Chance and 25-year-old Tatianna Osborne, were treated for pepper spray exposure before they were arrested and charged with assault.

Nickitta Chance is at the Durham County Detention Center due to charges in an unrelated criminal case, while Jellese Chance and Osborne were released on a written promise to appear in court.

As the three were before a magistrate, a verbal altercation began between the parties involved in the brawl.

Deputies said they believe everyone in the fight knew each other and that the brawl and verbal altercation were linked to a criminal investigation in Durham.

Deputies said there is no threat to the public.