Handguns, ammo seized on campus

     Many people believe the shootings at Virginia Tech resulted as a lack of people speaking up at the sight of strange or unusual activity. GCSU has already learned from this mistake, as Public Safety got an anonymous tip about the possession of firearms on campus Thursday, Aug. 23.
     The tip specifically stated that three white males suspected to have guns had just exited a blue Tacoma in Lot 4 and were entering Foundation Hall. The tip came in at 10 p.m. and immediately three officers were sent to the scene.
     Dispatch ran the cars tag number and identified the owner to be Wesley T. Crafton. Entering Foundation Hall, the three officers soon located Crafton and the two other subjects, Ryan McGovern and Cory Maddox, on the third floor in the room of a student named Molly McMillan.
     Crafton is a 22-year-old student of GCSU while both of the other men are enrolled as Kennesaw University students.
A search of the three suspects generated no weapons, but, cooperatively, Crafton confirmed the presence of a handgun in the passenger side of his car. The three suspects were placed in custody.
     Lieutenant Grant stated in his supplemental report that “all subjects were very cooperative and Crafton even stated he had other items in his room at Bobcat Village.”
     After placing the three subjects in the back of a patrol vehicle the three officers did an official search on the car.  Along with a previously noted open gun case in the back seat of the car by Officer Miller and Officer Reonas, the search turned up many illegal weapons. Three loaded handguns, several loose rounds, several boxes of ammunition, four knives, several magazines, and two bottles of alcoholic beverages were all found in Crafton’s vehicle.
     After giving consent to search his apartment the officers also located a few more magazines, more boxes of ammunition, and numerous loose rounds. And although all the weapons were licensed, Crafton was officially placed under arrest and charged with Possession of Firearm on School Grounds. Three state warrants were served to him as he was taken to Baldwin County Jail. The other men were eventually released.
     University records state Crafton began school in spring 2007 as a junior in the university’s Criminal Justice program. According to background searches and school officials Crafton has had no previous violations or noteworthy problems on his disciplinary record. Recently Crafton has been placed on suspension pending a hearing.
     Richard G. Goodson, Deputy Director of Public Safety, states, “Unless calling ahead and being escorted on campus by officers, Crafton is forbid to return to any campus property.”
     Ever since the Clarke Street stabbing incident almost two years ago and the Virginia Tech massacre this year, GCSU and all other universities nation wide take any reports of questionable behavior seriously.
     “At least once a year,” according to Goodson, “there is an incident involving weapons on campus.”
     Ironically, during the week of Crafton’s arrest for gun possession, the Public Safety office, specifically Crime Prevention Sergeant Brian English, had just begun placing Gun Awareness posters around campus.
     As Goodson says, “(The college environment) is not the safest environment for handguns to be available with students in such various emotional and stressful states.”
     Since the issue of guns on college campuses is very important recently, it is crucial to know the qualifications of a weapon on campus.
     According to the Georgia Law Enforcement Handbook 16-11-127.1, “Weapon means and includes any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife having a blade of two or more inches.” Plus other objects used for violent behavior or malicious intent are illegal, such as bats or clubs.
     Goodson says, “Some weapons are purely obvious in their purpose, others are obvious in their malicious criminal intent.”
In general, the Crafton incident last week proves the importance of public awareness to these rules and the obligation of each community member of reporting any suspicious behavior.
     However, Goodson says, “The good thing is how everyone reacted. We had a good response by both the officers and the student.”
     Dean Harshberger, vice president of Student Affairs also notes, “It is a lot easier at a smaller institution to keep safety a main priority but it is important to remember its each student’s responsibility to keep the campus a safe environment as well.” Tips are crucially important because Public Safety cannot do their job without the help and vigilant awareness of the public. 

Confiscated:

From the car:

• Three loaded handguns
• Beretta 9mm
• Walter 22 Calibur
• Kimber 45
• Several loose rounds
• Several boxes of ammunition
• Four knives
• Two bottles of alcoholic beverages

From the Apartment:

• More magazines
• More boxes of ammunition and loose rounds

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 6 2007. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry