Justice for Jayceon!

On September 24th, 2021, 13-year-old Jayceon Ware was arrested at his home in Putnam County and charged with a felony of “False Report of the Use of Firearms in a Violent Manner.”

Earlier that week an anonymous shooting threat was reported at Jayceon’s school. The police determined the threat was not credible. Incident reports obtained from Putnam County Sheriff Office (PCSO) show that Jayceon, who was not connected to the anonymous threat, believed he had information that the real date of the shooting was the 23rd. He emailed his teacher and warned a few of his classmates.

 

The incident reports show on September 21st, the teacher turned the email over to an administrator at Jayceon’s school. Two PCSO officers interviewed Jayceon later that day. They determined Jayceon didn’t have credible information, told him to stop mentioning the incident, and instructed Jayceon to return to class. His parents were never notified that their son had been interviewed by PCSO.

 

The following day, an anonymous report was made to PCSO stating “students on a bus were talking about a school shooting.” Police reports indicate there is no audio from any recordings. Witnesses who were interviewed were unable to identify the students who were “talking,” and Jayceon’s name was never mentioned by any of the witnesses. The incident reports note the students interviewed did not show up at school on the 23rd because they feared there would be a shooting.

 

On the morning of the 23rd, an officer waited at Jayceon’s school. The officer’s report states, “Jayceon was not on the bus and did not show up at school today. I am going to apply for a warrant.”

 

Jayceon stayed home on the 23rd, fearing there would be a shooting. He returned to school on Friday the 24th. Jayceon’s mother was called and told to pick him up immediately. Shortly after, PCSO arrested Jayceon at his house. After the arrest, PCSO plastered Jayceon’s arrest photo all over the internet and social media.

 

We tell our children “If you see something, say something.” In this situation, Jayceon has been traumatized for speaking up. He’s been placed on in-school suspension indefinitely as a result of his arrest. The school continually sends him home stating, “he is an interruption to the other students who go by the in-school suspension room to see Jayceon.” He continues to fall behind in school as a result.

 

Jayceon’s family doesn’t have the means to hire an attorney and justice will not be seen with a public defender in our rural community. Jayceon, a Black child who committed no crime, sits at the gates of the public school to prison pipeline.

 

THIS IS A GROSS INJUSTICE.

 

Jayceon’s parents have met with an attorney who believes the entire case should be dismissed and a lawsuit filed against the school district. If you believe Black Lives Matter and want to help right this wrong, please make a donation today to help Jayceon and his family receive justice in this incident. The attorney’s retainer is $5,000. A generous donor has already given $1,000 to help us meet this important goal.

 

Can you help give just a little? Every amount ADDS UP.

 

100% of donations will go directly to saving Jayceon from the wrongful arrest by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.