WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- A weekend incident with racial overtones at a high school for deaf students could result in criminal charges with `` enhanced penalties for a hate crime , '' Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier said Wednesday . A black student was held against his will and then released with `` KKK '' and swastikas drawn on him in marker at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf on Sunday , she said . No charges have been filed , and no names have been released , Lanier said . The incident began when a group of black students and a group of white students were in a dorm . `` My understanding is the two groups engaged in friendly horseplay , '' she said . But , she said , the groups got `` angry with each other . '' The two groups separated , she said , but later , six white students and one black student -- all between the ages of 15 and 19 -- took one of the black students into a dorm room and `` held him there against his will . '' `` They used markers to write 'KKK ' and draw swastikas on the student , '' Lanier said . The student was released after about 45 minutes . He notified dorm and school authorities , who called police . Lanier said police have identified and interviewed the students involved and the `` investigation is ongoing . '' `` The support we 've received from the campus and from the school employees has been tremendous , '' Lanier said . `` And I think they 're supporting us in making a very strong statement that this investigation may lead to charges that could have enhanced penalties for a hate crime . '' The school is a residential high school on the campus of Gallaudet University , a higher education facility for deaf and hard of hearing people . The high school is administered as a division of the university 's Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center . Dean of Clerc Center Katherine A. Jankowski said the seven students who participated in the incident were sent home . Gallaudet provost Stephen Weiner said the school does `` not tolerate any action , behavior of this type . '' `` We are taking action , '' he said . `` We are looking at programs to help students understand we are a school with a diverse population . '' `` This incident is intolerable , '' he said . `` That 's why the Metro police are involved . That 's how serious we are about this incident . '' Jankowski said the school has also hired a consultant to work with the school and its students on diversity issues . On Monday , teachers and staff hosted a school-wide assembly with students related to the incident , said Jankowski . Individual and group counseling services were also available to students , teachers and staff . `` We are committed to ensuring MSSD is a safe and supportive learning environment , '' she said . E-mail to a friend .
Groups of white , black students argued on Gallaudet University campus . Police : White students and one black student later assaulted black student . Title: Why do we have to wait for the sun to go down before it's dark enough? None have been charged yet , said police .