'Fighting for ... soul of our community': Augusta DA addresses school violence in video
Augusta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jared Williams on Friday released a video that addressed recent school violence in Richmond County, to include a brawl at Butler High School and a shooting at Josey High School.
"... I'm hurting because of the news of continued violence and foolishness," Williams said, "not only in our streets, but in our schools."
The Tuesday fight at Butler High occurred during a transition period between breakfast and the start of classes, noted previous reporting. Multiple students were sent home.
The following day, a student at Josey High shot a classmate in the hand, according to reports. The teen shooter evaded authorities for a day, but turned himself in to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office on Thursday morning.
Williams noted in his video that it is "likely" that the shooter in the Josey High incident is the child of incarcerated parents.
Reacting to crime isn't enough, Williams said, adding that cooperation is needed "to find solutions to help our kids." He advocated investing in programs that can reach children like the Josey High shooter before they commit acts of violence that send them to jail.
"When are we going to wake up and realize that what we fail to invest in our children today is what we'll have to invest in our prisons tomorrow?" Williams asked. "... We are fighting for the very soul of our community."
School violence: New school year is barely under way, but several violent incidents reported in area schools
Josey shooting: One injured in shooting at Josey High School, deputies looking for gunman
Other violent incidents or threats of violence took place at schools in Columbia, Aiken and Burke counties in recent days.
"Josey hits home for me," Williams said. "My grandma stayed on Wooten Road, one street over from Josey. I went to church on Koger Street, one street over from Josey. I played and prayed all my life, growing up right in that community."
Williams said he visited Josey High and nearby Murphey Middle on Friday to meet with staff. While there he had to break the news to a young boy, who had arrived and wondered why few others were there, that school had been canceled.
"It breaks my heart because he was disappointed," Williams said. "All he wanted to do was learn."
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: DA Jared Williams releases a video about school violence in Augusta
