I-TEAM: As the school year closes, how many guns were found in Richmond County?

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - There are only nine more days left of the 2023-2024 school year in Richmond County, but not every student will close out the year in their zoned school.

More than 100 middle and high school students were moved to the alternative school because of violating district policies this year. Some of which included bringing guns to school.

Our I-TEAM found that every month, except for November and December, there was at least one report of a gun found in a Richmond County school.

In all, there were nine cases over this school year, which is more than double the number the district reported to the state two years ago.

SEE THE LETTERS TO PARENTS:

The 2023-2024 school year began and ends much the same way at T.W. Josey High School.

Dispatch: “911. You need police fire or an ambulance?”

Student: “Hello. I go to T.W. Josey High School someone was shooting.”

It’s a nightmare shared by parents at half the district’s high schools this school year.

The I-TEAM has combed through letters and tribunal reports. Here’s what we’ve found:

• Cross Creek had two cases of students bringing guns to school this year. Both happened in October.
• Also in October, a student brought a gun to Lucy C. Laney High School. It happened again in February.
• In October, a student brought a gun to W.S. Hornsby Middle School.
• A student at Hephzibah High School also brought a gun to school.
• It happened twice at T.W. Josey High School, again this month.
• In January, a student brought a gun to Glenn Hills High School.

Tribunal records show most are expelled and/or moved to the alternative school.

Others like the 16-year-old law enforcement said fired a gun inside T.W. Josey High School are charged and sent to juvenile justice.

The majority of the discipline cases that went to tribunal this year do not involve guns or weapons. 36% of the nearly 200 incidents requiring a tribunal hearing are due to some sort of physical altercation.

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