Staff Writer
Two Richmond County schools were hit by bullets, a portable classroom at another caught fire and a student was arrested with a pistol at a fourth school in separate incidents that occurred over less than 24 hours. No one was injured.
In the most serious incident, a bullet whizzed through a kindergarten classroom at Copeland Elementary School on Friday morning, pierced a door, ricocheted around a restroom and landed in a toilet.
Catherine Draine was opening the window blinds when she heard what sounded like a brick hitting the window and noticed a hole "not even an arm's width away" from her.
She quickly rushed her pupils to safety.
Sheriff's deputies arrested a 15-year-old boy, charging him with reckless conduct and carrying a weapon within a school safety zone.
More charges could be placed on the teenager, who was at home because of a school suspension when he began taking target practice with a rifle. One of the stray bullets entered Mrs. Draine's classroom.
"I'm not sure who would be target practicing in their backyard," Investigator Ben Parrish said.
The teen, who was being held at the Regional Youth Detention Center on Friday afternoon, lives at a house backing up to the Jackson Road school.
"Right now, I feel much better knowing the kids are safe," Mrs. Draine said.
The school went on lockdown as a precaution.
On Thursday night, someone fired a shot at Cross Creek High School after a school dance, sheriff's Investigator Ronald Sylvester said.
Students were gathered in a parking lot when they heard a single gunshot.
A glass door at the school was struck and shattered, the investigator said.
In a third incident, a Butler High School student was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon on school property and carrying a concealed weapon, both of which are felonies, according to jail records.
Javier JaQuan West, 17, brought a .38-caliber handgun and ammunition to school, Investigator Tess Alexander-Brunson said. His mother told the investigator he had been bullied. The gun, however, had a trigger lock, and the teen didn't have the key.
"He couldn't shoot it if he wanted to," Investigator Alexander-Brunson said.
A teacher caught the student when he began showing the gun to a classmate, she said.
In another incident, an electrical short sparked a fire in a vacant portable classroom at Murphey Middle School.
"It's a total loss," said Benton Starks, the senior director of facility services. "We're going to tear it down."
The portable was surplus and was not being used as a classroom, Mr. Starks said.
Staff Photographer Kendrick Brinson contributed to this report.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
