Parents concerned after armed robbery at Newton High School
NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. - An armed robbery was reported at Newton High School last week.
The Newton County Sheriff's Office said the school notified their agency that a student was robbed at gunpoint in a restroom on May 5. One juvenile was arrested in connection with the incident, according to the report, and more arrests are pending.
The student involved in this incident will face criminal charges and will be disciplined according to the rules in the student code of conduct, according to a statement from the Newton County School System.
Some parents have big concerns about safety after a student the robbery.
The Newton County Sheriff's Office said it is still trying to determine how the male student got a weapon on campus.
"To hear something like this is terrifying," said Griselda Baker, a mother of students at Newton High School.
She said she was not with the phone call from the district after the incident.
"You want to be aware, you know, at the time something is going on and there seems like there needs to be a better way of communication, said Baker.
According to the police report the student was arrested and charged with armed robbery, bringing a weapon to school and violation of the Georgia Street Gangs act.
"That charge would relate to gang members. Right now I do not know if there are gang members involved or not. We are looking into that at the present time," said Deputy Favel Edwards, with the Newton County Sheriff's Office.
Deputy Edwards would not discuss the status of the student who was arrested last Friday afternoon, saying his fate is up to the juvenile courts.
"It would have been turned over to juvenile and we're waiting for it to be directed, what juvenile will tell is to do with that person," said Deputy Favel.
In a written report the school district said "In addition to criminal charges, the student involved in this incident will be disciplined according to the rules of the student code of conduct"
Phillip Baker, like his wife Griselda, has plenty of questions about safety at the high school.
"How did he get into the school with the gun and why. We just need some metal detectors in the school that the kids have to go through I guess," said Baker.
The Bakers hope if anything like this happens again their children and other students here would have a safe haven.
"There should be a way that kids feel safe to go to administers and say I know that this kid has a gun," said Mrs. Baker.
The Newton County Sheriff's Office said the weapon was not fired and no one was injured.
Investigators also say there was more than one person in the bathroom during the robbery but it's unclear if anyone else could face disciplinary action.