Bulloch County Schools is taking steps to ensure student safety following a tragic incident that occurred off-campus Tuesday evening. In a statement released Tuesday evening, the school district announced an increased presence of law enforcement and district leadership at Statesboro High School on Wednesday, January 15th, with the possibility of extending throughout the week.
According to a press release from Bulloch County Schools, the Statesboro Police Department informed them of an incident involving multiple students that took place off-campus on Tuesday evening.
As reported earlier by Grice Connect, details are still emerging, but the incident reportedly resulted in a fight between high school students at a local apartment complex and tragically, the shooting of three teenagers, one of whom did not survive. The shooter fled the scene and at at the time this story was published remains at large.
"Out of an abundance of caution, and in close coordination with public safety officials, we are taking these steps to ensure the safety of our students and staff at Statesboro High School," said Bulloch County Schools Public Relations Director Hayley Greene in a statement. "While this incident occurred outside of school grounds, it is understandable that students and families may be feeling anxious. We want to assure everyone that the safety of our students is our top priority."
The additional law enforcement officers will be visible at the school but will not disrupt the normal school day. School officials are encouraging anyone with information about this incident or any other safety concerns to contact law enforcement immediately or a school administrator. Anonymous reporting options are also available online or by phone at bullochschools.org/safety.
The school district is urging everyone to avoid using social media to spread unverified information, as this can create unnecessary panic and disrupt the school environment.
Statesboro High School and the Bulloch County School District will continue to update the community as more information becomes available.
If you Saw Something, Say Something
SPD is asking anyone with information regarding the shooting to contact detectives at 912-764-9911.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Statesboro PD website at https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous/statesboroga.gov.
This is a developing story. We will update this article as new information is released.
