Security concerns rise after shooting near Laney-Westside football game
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - With gunshots interrupting another Augusta high school football game, the new season has already been marred by violence.
Gunfire at a nearby apartment complex brought an end to Friday night’s Laney-Westside game – the season opener for both teams.
It sent spectators scattering for cover and running from the stadium in a scene eerily similar to past shootings around Augusta stadiums – and there have been a few of those.
VIDEO FROM THE SCENE:
The gunfire wasn’t in the stadium or on school property, so it’s hard to imagine what the school district could have done to prevent it.
But the incident still leaves some feeling uneasy about security at football games.
It’s not the kickoff to football season many wanted to see. Especially, for those who attended Laney and take so much pride in their school.
“My family was asking me, ‘Where are you?’ And I told them I was at home. They said, well, they just had a shooting,” said Augusta Commission member Francine Scott.
The game had to be stopped for safety reasons.
That’s surely a setback for many players who have high hopes of being scouted or recruited for college football.
Suspect sought in Augusta home invasion, armed robbery
A suspect is wanted in connection with a home invasion and armed robbery in Augusta, authorities announced on Monday.
But it’s not the first time.
“As an alumni of the Lucy C. Laney High School, it always breaks my heart to even if it’s not Laney students, it’s the perception because it’s on the outside,” said Scott.
Last season and the season before, gun incidents interfered with several Augusta games – even some at the same stadium.
In September 2022, two people were arrested in connection to “shots fired” at Lucy C. Laney Football Stadium.
Gunfire sent the crowd into a panic in September 2022 at the Laney-Thomson game. Two people – Roosevelt Demmons, 17, of Thomson, and Santana Mance, 17, of Dearing – were arrested in connection with the mayhem.
A 17-year-old, Jahkhi Amir Wimbley, was caught with a gun at the Hephzibah-Laney game in August 2022. He wasn’t a student at either school, authorities said.
A shooting in September 2022 injured two people at a postgame tailgating party at Josey High School.
A cancellation of the Butler-Cross Creek game.
53-year-old woman shot dead, found on Dan Bowles Road in Augusta
A woman was found shot dead in Augusta, the latest victim in a two-year outbreak of deadly crime that’s claimed more than 170 lives across the CSRA.
On Friday night, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the area of Augusta Court and Blounts Avenue for multiple gunshots near the football field.
Richmond County School System police also responded to check the surrounding area and get the stadium safely evacuated. according to the school district.
Coaches for both teams said their players were OK.
While deputies didn’t find any victims, they did find cartridge casings and property damage.
The gunfire was addressed in a letter from to parents of students at both Laney and Westside.
READ THE LETTER:
“We are aware of the anxiety this incident has caused in our school and our community,” the letter stated. “Please know that we continually work with local law enforcement agencies to maintain a safe school environment during athletic events.”
That does seem to be the case.
According to an email obtained by News 12 through an open-records request, Timothy Taylor reached out to ask if any sheriff’s deputies would be available to work at games for $40 an hour, paid in cash on the day of the event.
How many students were caught with weapons in past week?
There have been multiple cases of students being caught with weapons this week in Richmond County schools.
Two officers would be assigned per game.
According to the date of the email – Aug. 14 – the request wasn’t made in reaction to the shooting. And the games referenced in the email apparently aren’t even high school football games, judging from the times and days of the week.
Still, the district is clearly doing what it can to ensure safety.
“You might be a little thin in of how we can get enforcement to take place, but we all have to work together to make Augusta safe for our children,” said Scott.
“I was born and raised in that community,” she said. “We’re the pride of Augusta, and we’re going to continue to do that. We’re going to continue to Lucy C. Laney High School.”
The gunfire comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 170 lives in a little over two years across the CSRA.
The crime outbreak has affected communities large and small, but as the biggest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.
Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
