As fans cheered at a high school football game Friday night in Clayton County, an 18-year-old student was shot in the Tara Stadium parking lot, the district said.
The victim, who officials said is a senior at Dutchtown High School in Henry County, received non-fatal injuries and was alert when officers met with him. A GoFundMe campaign identified the teenager as Isaiah Thomas.
“Clayton County Public Schools has as its No. 1 priority the safety and security of its staff and students,” the district said in a statement. “Violence of any kind will not be tolerated.”
The shooting took place around 10:25 p.m. in the stadium parking lot on Battle Creek Road, where Jonesboro was playing Mt. Zion. According to investigators, the shooting happened as a result of an attempted robbery.
Thomas said the shooting completely changed his life. The teen had been playing basketball since he was 12 years old and hoped to continue playing in college, where he also aspired to study software engineering, he wrote in the GoFundMe. He said he is now looking at undergoing rehabilitation due to his injuries.
“I did not ask to be shot and I did not entice this violent crime on myself,” he said. “One of the bullets severed my spinal cord and is lodged in my spine.”
A witness, who authorities said appeared to be with the shooting suspect, was identified. Their name was not publicly released and police did not say if they were facing any charges. No information was provided about the suspected shooter.
Officials clarified that “at this point, it does not appear that currently enrolled Clayton County students were involved in the situation.”
The school district said it took “heightened security measures” during Friday’s game, citing an increase in violence in the community. The district will also continue using weapon-detection devices and only allow clear bags inside stadiums.
Start times will also be adjusted for games with relatively large crowds due to Friday’s incident.
“The district will continue to restructure to provide greater vigilance and safety precautions as it continues to confront the increase in violence among our youth in our nation,” authorities said.
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