Statesboro High School Routine Safety Search Results in One Student Arrested

A routine school safety search at Statesboro High School today resulted in one student being arrested and transported to a Regional Youth Detention Facility after a handgun was discovered in his possession.

From Statesboro Police Dept:

On 9/4/25 SPD officers and K9’s assigned to Special Investigations, with assistance from K9’s of the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, participated in a pre-planned school safety search at Statesboro High School in coordination with school administrators. This search was designed to ensure student safety by uncovering any contraband items or weapons. During the course of the search, a handgun was discovered in the possession of a 16-year-old male student. That student was arrested and transported to a Regional Youth Detention Facility pending a hearing in Juvenile Court. He is charged with Carrying a Weapons in a School Safety Zone (Felony) and Possession of a Handgun by a Person Under 18. The investigation into how the 16-year-old came to possess the firearm is ongoing.

Information regarding this case may be provided to Officer Kyle Wright at 912-764-9911 or by submitting an anonymous tip through our website https://statesboropd.com/ using the Submit a Tip link.

From Bulloch County Schools:

School Families,

We want to inform you of an incident that occurred on Statesboro High School’s campus on Thursday morning, Sept. 4. 

During a routine safety search, a student was found to be in possession of a handgun. The 16-year-old student was immediately detained, and he is in the custody of law enforcement. Authorities are conducting a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this event. The student was removed from campus, and he will be held to the most extreme disciplinary consequences permitted for this type of offense.

While the student was on campus, he had not been with the general school population this morning. The safety search was already underway when the student came into the school building. For this reason, in keeping with safety search protocols, the student was taken to the auditorium. 

School personnel are to be commended for their observation skills and diligence.They noticed that the student was acting suspiciously. They immediately alerted an administrator, who then searched the student, found the weapon, and reported it to the officers on site.

APO Matthew Jackson of the Statesboro Police Department (SPD), who serves as the school resource officer for Statesboro High School, coordinated this routine safety search with school administrators and SPD K-9 and drug investigation units. These planned searches are designed to ensure student safety by uncovering any contraband items or weapons.

We know that news like this can feel unsettling, and we want to reassure you that our first priority is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Our safety protocols worked exactly as they were designed to, and every step was taken to protect everyone on campus. We are also working closely with law enforcement to address the situation in full accordance with district and legal guidelines.

We encourage you to talk with your children about the importance of school safety and the role they play in keeping our schools secure. Remind them that reporting anything unusual—whether an item or behavior—is an important way to care for their school community. If you or your child have any information or concerns, please reach out to our school administration or contact local authorities directly. Students may also use our new Say Something Anonymous Reporting System.

Your trust and partnership are essential to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment. Thank you for working with us to keep our school a place where every student feels cared for and secure.