the NEWS May 9, 2015
Volume 7, Issue 4
Law Enforcement Appreciation Week Highlighting those who go above and beyond to protect and serve, Page 10
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rockdalenews.com
Serving Rockdale County and Conyers
A ‘Chipmunk’ Mardi Gras
Student charged for bringing gun to middle school By Michelle Kim
mkim@rockdalenews.com
The student who brought and accidentally fired a gun in a boys bathroom of Conyers Middle School, putting the school on lockdown Tuesday, now faces criminal charges. The 14-year-old eighth grader was arrested and detained at the Rockdale Youth Detention Center Tuesday, according to Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett. He was charged with possession of firearms by a minor, possession of firearms on school property, reckless conduct and false statement. The student reportedly did not have a history of disciplinary problems and made good grades. He obtained his father’s handgun, a Glock 22, and reportedly brought it to school to show off. The father is not in law enforcement but may work in private security, said the sheriff. “He had no intentions of using a weapon. He just felt it was ‘cool’ to carry a weapon,” said Levett. “It was discovered he only had one bullet, which matches the evidence.” There were several other students in the bathroom when the single bullet was loaded into the gun. The student was not aiming at anyone or anything, according to witnesses, when the gun reportedly accidentally went off around 1:45 p.m. A school employee heard the gunshot and reported it to administrators, who reported it to the School Resource Officer and law enforcement. “With the SRO on scene, and deputies getting here, they were able to identify things pretty quickly. We’re grateful for that,” said Levett. Students at Conyers Middle School will not be allowed to bring bookbags and backpacks for the remainder of the school year, said RCPS spokesperson Cindy Ball. This typically happens during the last two weeks of the school year, but it has been moved up by about a week. “We have increased our staff for the remainder of the week... we also are maintaining a heightened awareness during our transition periods - arrivals,
See CHARGED on PAGE 8 It was a Mardi Gras celebration “Chipmunk”-style as the fourth Alvin and the Chipmunks movie,”Road Chip,” filmed in Olde Town Conyers May 4-8. The first of the Chipmunks animation and live action films, “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” grossed more than $361 million. Two sequels followed, “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” in 2009 and “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” in 2011. On Wednesday, Conyers City Council heard another earful of complaints about filmmaking’s impact on Olde Town businesses, and some changes are in the works-likely including adding a merchant to the city’s film-policy committee. Also this week, it was announced the hit Fox supernatural TV show “Sleepy Hollow” would be moving production from North Carolina to Rockdale County, much of it out in the Georgia International Horse Park or open areas. For the full articles, go to rockdalenews.com
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