High-School Student Faces Charges After Shooting in Campus Gym

A student at Jones County High School in Gray, Ga., is facing charges after discharging a firearm in the school’s gym during a basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 11. Sheriff Butch Reece said that the shooting occurred at about 8 p.m. during the game between Baldwin and Jones County. The gym was evacuated, and investigators determined that a single shot was fired during a fight between supporters of the two schools.

No injuries were reported, according to local news. Officers pulled a vehicle over at about 9:15 p.m. and arrested four minors for possession of a firearm on a school’s campus, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school zone, possession of a firearm by a minor and party to a crime.

Of the four students arrested, 17-year-old Jailan Letravis Lester has since been charged with the shooting. He faces charges of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a minor, disrupting a school event, affray, disorderly conduct and possession of a firearm on school property. Local news reports that Lester is a current student at Jones County High.

The sheriff’s office reports that Lester is being held without bond and that more arrests are expected as the investigation unfolds.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning and Campus Security and Life Safety. He can be reached at MJones@1105media.com

Featured

  • An Annual Security Check-up

    Just like going to the doctor for your annual health check-ups; the same holds true for schools who need to go through an extensive security check-up annually. The main reason is to ensure they are fully prepared for any type of emergency that arises on school grounds. Read Now

  • Student Centered Solutions

    In early 2023, John Diemer Elementary School, located in an east Kansas suburb, was transformed into a facility that embodies the idea that learning happens everywhere. The new facilities feature innovative classroom designs that balance flexibility and security—a plan that had been developed collaboratively between the architects and project owners. Read Now

  • Three Killed in Shooting at UNLV, Suspect Also Dead

    Three people were killed and another injured in a shooting at UNLV Wednesday afternoon in Las Vegas. The suspected gunman was killed in a shootout with law enforcement. Read Now

  • Understanding the Differences

    When it comes to video security systems in schools, there are many misconceptions about how AI, analytics, and facial recognition intersect and overlap. Where does one technology end and the next begin? Which ones raise more privacy concerns on campuses? In this article, we will examine the differences between these technologies and address privacy issues as we aim to protect students, staff and property. Read Now

Webinars