More than a dozen incidents in Richmond County schools within first month of class

More than a dozen incidents, half of which involved weapons, have been reported at Richmond County Schools since the start of the 2024-25 school year.

Classes resumed on Aug. 5 for elementary schools and Aug. 6 for K-8, middle, magnet and high schools, according to previous reporting. Since the beginning of classes, records show 13 incidents were relayed to parents.

More than half of the incidents involved weapons, and administrators have confiscated a total of three guns and two knives, according to reports from the Richmond County School System. There were no incidents at or near Columbia County schools that threatened student safety.

The school system did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Here is a list of all incidents reported to parents so far this year, according to records.

Incidents involving weapons

• Aug. 9 – George P. Butler High School: Administrators received a tip that a student had a weapon. Administrators and RCSS police conducted a search and confiscated a handgun. The incident was addressed by RCSS police.
• Aug. 12 – Murphey Middle School: A student brought a knife to school and showed it to other students. Administrators conducted a search and confiscated the weapon. RCSS police were notified and the incident was addressed by the school.
• Aug. 12 – Richmond Hill Elementary School: A student took a knife out of a bookbag and showed it to other students. Students reported the knife to the bus driver, who confiscated the weapon and reported it to administration. The incident was addressed by the school.
• Aug. 14 – Cross Creek High School: During dismissal, several students were involved in a fight in the parking lot, witnessed by another group of students. School staff and a RCSS police officer responded and sent all of the students home. Administrators and RCSS police determined one student had a weapon, but did not use it during the fight. The incident is being addressed by RCSS police.

Shooting near Laney High School: Shots fired near Laney-Westside football game; police search for casings inside stadium

• Aug. 16 – Lucy C. Laney High School, Westside High School: A shooting occurred near the Lucy C. Laney High School football stadium during a game. Richmond County Sheriff's Office deputies and RCSS police evacuated the stadium and parking lots. The incident is being addressed by the sheriff's office.
• Aug. 22 – Cross Creek High School: Administrators received a tip that a student had a weapon and conducted a search. They found and confiscated a gun. RCSS police is addressing the incident.
• Aug. 26 – Richmond Hill Middle School: Students witnessed another student with a gun at a neighborhood bus stop. RCSS police is addressing the incident.

Online threats

• Aug. 20 – George P. Butler High School, The Academy of Richmond County, Glenn Hills High School, Lucy C. Laney High School, T.W. Josey High School, Hephzibah High School, Westside High School, Cross Creek High School: RCSS police were notified about an online social media post that made threats against all three schools. Police investigated and officers remained vigilant throughout the day. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office investigated the source of the post, which was an old image that is circulated every year. The page that made the post was deactivated.
• Aug. 22 – A.R. Johnson Magnet School: RCSS police were notified about an online social media post that made threats against the school. RCSS police coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to find the source of the post and intervened off-campus on the morning of Aug. 23, before school.

Lockdowns

• Aug. 21 – Copeland Elementary School: The school was locked down for about an hour as the Richmond County Sheriff's Office investigated shots fired in a community near the school. RCSS police responded to the school while the surrounding area was cleared.

Transportation mishaps, bed bug activity, student deaths

• Aug. 13 – Bayvale Elementary School: A student got off at the wrong bus stop while riding their normal bus route and a RCSS representative contacted the family to ensure the student made it home safely. Bus pick-up will be enforced with stricter guidelines to ensure the issue does not happen again, according to the school.
• Aug. 14 – Monte Sano Elementary School: A Kindergarten student was exposed to bed bugs outside of the school. Bed bug protocol was activated and all students, student belongings and classrooms were examined.
• Aug. 20 – Murphey Middle School: Murphey Middle School announced two students died within the same weekend. The Richmond County Coroner's Office has not confirmed the deaths, as of Aug. 28.

Unconfirmed Murphey middle students: Brothers killed in fiery crash after Augusta police chase, family creates GoFundMe

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: More than a dozen incidents in Richmond County schools within first month of class