NCST Editor Authorities Observed Suspect in the Stands
According to a statement released Friday evening by Dr. Ashley Wilkes the Principal of Northgate High School, just after 9:30 PM SRO’s and school administrators observed an individual in the home side stands with what they believed was a concealed handgun in his waistband. They confronted the individual who then attempted to flee, leading authorities on a brief foot chase before being apprehended and arrested. A handgun was retrieved from the suspect.
Prior to the official statement being released on the Coweta County School System’s Facebook Page, multiple students and parents who were attending the game reached out to NCST staff via Facebook providing a slightly more hectic version of the events they were witnessing.
From their perspective the incident started when the suspect began to flee from authorities and someone yelled gun, sending a wave of chaos in nearby attendees who were unaware of the situation prior to that moment.
Video of the incident published by the Newnan Times-Herald from cameras nearby shows the suspect running from the stands and through a small crowd with authorities close behind.
Suspect Identified and Charged
While the statement released by the Principal on Friday night had mentioned only that the suspect was “an East Coweta High School student,” booking records would soon identify the suspect as 17 yr old Tadarrion Tremewz Turner, of Newnan.
Turner was transported from the game to the Coweta County Jail and booked on the following charges that night.
- Marijuana – Possess less than 1 oz
- Weapon, carrying within school safety zones
- Weapon – firearm possess by Person under 18YOA – First Offense
All of the charges are misdemeanors and had a collective bail amount of $2,350.
Turner was able to bail out of the jail sometime over the weekend.
Previous Criminal History
While previous criminal history is not normally something available for most 17-year-olds, booking records show that Turner has a recent booking into the Coweta County Jail.
According to open records obtained by NCST, Turner was arrested on May 15th, 2024 after a vehicle he was in was involved in a traffic stop by the Newnan Police Department around 10 PM at the intersection of Mary Ann St and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Newnan
He was booked into the Coweta County Jail the night of the 15th and charged with the following.
- Marijuana – Possess less than 1 oz
The charge is a misdemeanor and had a bail amount of $600.
