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Security at games increases after student shot outside Jonesboro high school football game Friday night

By and FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Published  August 19, 2023 8:51am EDT
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 5 Atlanta

Security beefed up after HS football game shooting

Clayton County families didn't let a shooting outside a recent high school football game deter them from watching the sport at the same place this week. But this time, security was in full force at Southern Crescent Stadium in Riverdale.

CLAYTON COUNTY - An 18-year-old senior at Dutchtown High School in Henry County was shot at a game Friday night in the parking lot for Hines Ward Field at Tara Stadium in Jonesboro.

It happened around 10:26 p.m., according to a statement from Clayton County Public Schools. Investigators say the shooting occurred during an attempted robbery. The student appeared to be alert with non-fatal injuries after the shooting.

The school district says there was an identified witness who appeared to be with the shooter. At this point, it does not appear that any other Clayton County students were involved in the situation.

(CLAYTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS)

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Jonesboro High School and Mt. Zion High School were playing football prior to the shooting.

CCPS said that safety and security of its students and staff is its number one priority and violence of any kind will not be tolerated. They also said they had heightened security measures in place for Friday night's football game. 

Moving forward, CCPS said all games with fairly large crowds will now have adjusted start times, starting with the North Clayton High School vs. Riverdale High School game that was scheduled for Saturday.

The school district said it will continue using weapon-detection devices and only allow clear bags/purses at its games.

Clayton County families didn’t let Friday night’s shooting deter them from coming out to Saturday night’s game.  

There was a heavy police presence outside of Southern Crescent Stadium Saturday for the game between North Clayton High School and Riverdale High School.  

But Clayton County parent Ryan Murphy said he welcomed the officers.  

"It's much needed with all the isolated incidents going on, you know, you can never be too safe," he said.  

Portsha Baggett, who came out to Saturday’s game to support her niece, a cheerleader for North Clayton High School, said she also appreciated the officers being here.

"It's awesome seeing them out here. I'm really glad to see them out here. Hopefully, they can keep the violence down," Baggett said.

After the game, officers worked quickly to clear the parking lot, ordering people to move to their vehicles and not hang out in the parking lot.