GRAMERCY — One area man has been arrested as authorities continue to investigate a brutal fight that broke out overnight during St. James Parish’s celebration of Christmas Eve bonfires.

The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office said Jordan Hitt, 21, of Gramercy was arrested Thursday for aggravated second degree battery, announcing detectives are continuing their investigation and encouraging anyone who may have information to call 225-562-2200.

The arrest follows a severe beating that sent two to the hospital.

“We all know it was a fight between young black men and young white men, but we don’t know if it’s over hate,” St. James Sheriff Willy Martin Jr. told The Advocate. “We have not determined the motive of this fight.”

The fight resulted in two victims being sent to St. Elizabeth Hospital, where family and authorities said 17-year-old Shannon Dumas received more than a dozen stitches for damage across his face and head.

A friend of the Dumas family told L’OBSERVATEUR that family members believe the attack was racially motivated when a group of young white males took exception to seeing a white female talking with a group of young black males.

The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a call regarding the disturbance on the levee at 12:05 a.m. Monday.

Gramercy Police were dispatched, and responding officers discovered a fight had taken place on the levee that resulted in two individuals sent St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office joined the investigation Wednesday.

Police said Hitt is incarcerated at the St. James Parish Jail in Convent awaiting the setting of bond.