Richmond County Sheriff’s Office plans to address teen violence
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Just days into the summer holiday in Augusta and there’s already been a shooting sending 2 teens to the hospital and 2 others to the hospital.
Many people living in Augusta are wondering what is the county’s plan to reduce youth violence during the summer.
RCSO Recently met with judges, business owners and community partners to discuss how to make the city safer especially for teens and young adults.
Not long after the meeting did the Harrisburg area see the aforementioned shooting.
Community asks for help after Harrisburg shooting
Two teens have been charged after a shooting incident in the Harrisburg area that left two people injured on Sunday night, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
“When you got a lot of juveniles that are running the streets unaccompanied, especially at night time and their parents aren’t aware of where they are, they tend to get and fall into the wrong group of people and end up getting themselves in trouble. And sometimes, unfortunately, someone get killed,” Johnson explained.
The first step is a curfew for people under 18, which will be strictly enforced, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“We love our youth. I do, all of our folks. Do we want them to be able to go out, have a good time to be successful? We’re not trying to hold them in the house or anything like that. But at the same time, you got to think about their safety. We can’t just let them run them up. We can’t let them put themselves in danger or other people in danger.”
The Sheriff’s Office is also reinforcing beats, keeping the same deputies patrolling the same areas.
16-month-old dies in Augusta, and coroner calls it ‘suspicious’; 2nd child taken to hospital
A suspicious death investigation is underway after a 16-month-old child died, according to the Richmond County Coroner’s Office.
“They’ll recognize him, they’ll know him and they’ll be, they’ll feel like they have more of a relationship with him,” Johnson explains.
Deputies will also have more teen social clubs and community events, but they say it starts at home.
“It falls back on the parents. It’s not a schoolteacher’s job to raise your children. It’s not a police officer’s job to raise your children. It’s your job. Raise your children and you need to be held able for them. And if you want them to be successful in life, you need to keep up with what they’re doing.”
Since 2022, the CSRA has seen the deaths of at least 30 people under the age of 20.
Go here to read more about the new rules put in place by the Sheriff’s Office.
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