Five teens arrested in connection with shooting at high school basketball game

Submitted via press release from the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.

On Saturday, December 11, 2021, at approximately 8:00 p.m. a shooting inside the Jones County High School Gymnasium occurred during a basketball game between Jones and Baldwin County High Schools.

Working in cooperation, units from the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and Gray Police Department quickly arrived at the High School. It was discovered that one single shot was fired inside the gym after an ongoing fight that occurred between individuals from both Jones County and Baldwin County.

Due to Deputies quickly responding, a vehicle was stopped at one of the exits of the school parking lot. Deputies Jeff Sullivan and John Kile detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a quantity of marijuana and a loaded pistol. Several subjects in the vehicle were identified as the individuals from Baldwin County who were involved in the fight inside the gymnasium. The subjects were taken to the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and interviewed by members of the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and Gray Police Department.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as 17-year-old Dewayne Russell of Milledgeville. The passengers in the vehicle were all identified as juveniles; therefore, their names cannot be released at this time.

All subjects were subsequently charged with possession of a firearm on school campus, possession of marijuana less than one ounce, possession of a controlled substance within a thousand feet of school zone, possession of a firearm by a minor, and party to a crime.

Russell remains in the Jones County Jail at this time without bond. In cooperation with the administrators and staff of the Jones County High School, several individuals involved in the altercation were identified as current or past Jones County students.

With assistance from the United States Marshal Service, Jailan Letravis Lester was subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated assault, possession of firearm by a minor, disrupting a school event, affray, disorderly conduct, and firearm on school property. Lester is currently incarcerated at the Jones County Sheriffs with no bond.

Thankfully no one was injured during this incident, as there were several bystanders in the area of the shooting. This investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected. Should anyone have any information regarding this case, please contact the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.