East Coweta student arrested with gun at football game

NEWNAN, Georgia – A 17-year-old East Coweta High School student was arrested Friday night after authorities discovered him carrying a handgun during a football game between Northgate High School and Newnan High School.

School officials alerted Coweta County Sheriff's Deputies, who were in charge of game security, after students reported that another teenager had a gun. The boy attempted to run away when school officials approached him around 9:30 p.m.

Officers quickly apprehended the student and found a concealed handgun in his waistband. He was arrested and taken to the Coweta County Jail.

Administration said the teen was arrested in the stands at the home stadium. The district added that Northgate administration and school security officials provided security throughout the game.

Authorities have not released further details about the charges the student may face, but confirmed there will be legal consequences.

The incident came nearly 10 days after a shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County that killed four people: two students and two teachers. The shooter, also a student, was quickly arrested by local authorities. The incident sparked increased discussions across the state about school security measures and growing concerns about bringing weapons onto school property.

Dr. Ashley Wilkes, principal of Northgate High School, praised the school's security team and the Coweta County Sheriff's Office for their quick response.

“Our goal is always to be proactive when it comes to student safety and to be transparent with our parents and stakeholders in the event of an incident,” Wilkes said in a statement to parents.

The Coweta County school system and numerous other districts across the state have recently dealt with several incidents in which students made threatening comments or gestures. In a separate letter, school superintendent Evan Horton urged parents to talk to their children about the potential consequences of threatening or disruptive behavior.