Laney High School: Police Reacts to Gunshots, Reports No Injuries

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By Jackelyn Cornejo , Parent Herald Feb 06, 06:21 am

Photo: (Photo : MICHELE EVE SANDBERG/AFP via Getty Images)

In Augusta, Georgia, following a morning incident where gunshots were reported in a restroom at Lucy C. Laney High School, it took nearly two hours for either involved agency to release information.

Fortunately, there were no injuries, but a bullet did strike a toilet during the incident reported just before 10 a.m.

Authorities detain at least two students - one with a gun and the other with a knife.

RCSO Responds To Laney HIgh School Gunshot Incident

The police response was evident, with approximately a dozen patrol cars from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office arriving at the school.

However, the public disclosure was less transparent, leading to rumors circulating online and through more traditional channels, causing concerned parents to flock to the school on Laney Walker Boulevard.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office received information about at least one gunshot in a restroom and has detained multiple students as part of their ongoing investigation.

Deputies and patrol cars from Richmond County are currently present at Laney High School.

The school has been confirmed to be on lockdown, with nearby A. R. Johnson and C.T. Walker Magnet School was also placed on lockdown until 11:35 AM.

Although the reason for the lockdowns has not been confirmed by RCSO or Richmond County School Police, Augusta University has informed students about a disturbance near its Health Sciences campus, citing "claims of shots fired" at Laney High School.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office, however, asserts that there is no present threat and no reported injuries at the scene.

Several students were apprehended following a Monday morning shooting incident at Lucy C. Laney High School in Augusta.

The release mentioned that deputies were informed of at least one gunshot originating from a restroom within the school.

After reviewing surveillance footage from the school premises, deputies successfully identified and detained the students responsible for the shooting.

One of them was reportedly in possession of a gun, while the other had a knife on the school premises.

In a communication addressed to the school staff, Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw disclosed that a toilet had been struck by gunfire.

Laney High School Lockdown

When News 12 arrived shortly before 11 a.m., officers assured that no one had been injured, the situation was under control, and the school was on a soft lockdown.

Attempts to obtain information from the Richmond County School System and the Sheriff's Office during the unfolding situation yielded no response from the school district.

The Richmond County Sheriff's Office finally communicated with us at 11:55 a.m., nearly two hours after the incident occurred.

The first public acknowledgment from the school district consisted of letters posted online for parents of students at Laney, A.R. Johnson, and Charles T. Walker at about 12:10 p.m. on the district's open records portal, although parents claimed they received the letter at 11:22 a.m. - earlier than the general public but still well after the incident had started.

According to online rumors, a gun had been fired in a restroom, and that turned out to be true.

An email reportedly from Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw to teachers at Laney at 11:16 a.m. stated the incident involved shots fired in a restroom, with a student found with a gun and another with a knife, but it was meant for employees only.

Ironically, the earliest accurate information about the incident came from an agency not directly involved: Augusta University.

At 10:34 a.m., it sent an alert to the AU community, stating that the Richmond County Sheriff's Office responded to claims of shots fired at Laney around 10 a.m. The alert confirmed there was no active threat to the community upon their arrival.

Richmond County School District spokeswoman Keisa Gunby directed News 12 to file an open records request when asked about the public notification protocol.

However, Richmond County Board of Education President Charlie Walker provided a rough outline on the protocol in notifying the public in similar situations, indicating that the Richmond County Sheriff's Office responds to the scene, establishes a "shout point" for gathering and confirming information, and handles the situation.

Then, the parents should be notified first, followed by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and the rest of the school system. If the situation is contained, normal school operations should resume the next day.