Cobb student jailed, suspended for gang fight

A South Cobb High School student is in jail on $10,000 bond after beating up a 15-year-old as part of an initiation into a street gang.

Julius Andreono Garner, an 18-year-old freshman, was arrested May 13 on charges of disruption of public school, simple battery and a felony violation of the Georgia gang statute. Arrest warrants state that Garner slammed the 15-year-old on the ground, kicked him and punched him several times.

Jay Dillon, a spokesman for the Cobb County School District, said the fight occurred before school started and did not disrupt normal school operations. The victim also was part of a gang, Dillon said.

Garner received 10 days of out-of-school suspension. He had not yet bonded out of jail as of Tuesday morning. Five other students who were involved in the fight also were disciplined by the school.

“The principal and officers are aware of concerns in the neighborhoods involving gangs,” Dillon said. “They aggressively respond to any attempt to bring any of this activity on South Cobb’s campus, as evidenced by the swift and appropriate handling of this situation.”

Dillon said that only two other students were charged under the gang statute at South Cobb High School during the 2008-2009 school year. He said that school officials have not seen a rise in gang activity.