Crime
Student wounded after shooting at RJ Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem
The extent of their injuries and their current condition remain unknown.
A shooting at RJ Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has left one juvenile injured and prompted immediate lockdowns at several area schools.
Authorities are actively investigating the incident, which occurred in the area of West Northwest Boulevard.
Forsyth County Emergency Services confirmed that a juvenile was shot Tuesday afternoon. According to the Winston-Salem Police Department, the victim is a student at RJ Reynolds High School and was struck in the upper leg during an altercation.
Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. provided additional details, stating the incident stemmed from a confrontation earlier in the day.
The injured student was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The extent of their injuries and their current condition remain unknown.
The suspect in the shooting has not yet been apprehended, and law enforcement is continuing efforts to locate the individual.
To ensure the safety of students and staff, Reynolds High School, as well as nearby Brunson Elementary and Wiley Middle School, were placed on lockdown following the shooting.
Police have arranged for Reynolds High School students to be transported to the Harris Teeter parking lot on Cloverdale Avenue. Parents are urged to go there to reunite with their children.
As a precautionary measure, school officials have canceled the basketball game scheduled for Tuesday evening between Reynolds High School and Parkland High School.
The incident has raised concerns about safety on school grounds and prompted an outpouring of support for the injured student. Law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to aid in their efforts.
This developing situation remains a priority for local law enforcement, and updates will be provided as new details emerge.
Crime
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.