Neighbors say it started with a domestic dispute... And led to gunfire... involving officers.
When it was over, this man... A prison guard... Was dead.
Hello everyone. Thank you for joining us.
I'm Frank Malloy.
And I'm Leah Johnson..
This is eyewitness news at six.
So far tonight... Warner Robins Police aren't talking about that case. They asked the GBI to investigate independently.
That's standard procedure when officers are involved in a shooting.
Lorra Lynch Jones talked with family and friends about what happened last night on Huntwood Lane.
Looking for answers... The family of Anthony Rawls found few outside his house Monday morning.
The 49-year-old father and supervisor at Macon State Prison was killed by police gunfire outside his home Sunday night.
Earl Rawls Junior says he and other family members were at Anthony's home Sunday night to visit with his son.. Who just graduated from college.
Earl says Anthony and his wife stayed on the front porch most of the night.
<there was no fighting going on.>
But police said a 911 call said Rawls had a gun and was threatening his wife.
Neighbor... Donna Stuckey... Says another member of Rawl's family told her what allegedly happened.
<He held a gun to his wife's head, then to a police officer.>
Earl Rawls said he didn't see that... Just what happened when officers arrived.
<the officer ran over here, told em to show his hands or something. They started hollering, shot over there at them, and after that, a bunch of shots were fired.>
He says his brother didn't fire at police... and criticized officers for shooting toward the house... after he told them children were inside.
<they didn't negotiate, they didn't try to talk to him or nothing.>
<I know that when you point a gun at a police officer, that's it.>
But Stuckey says it still doesn't make sense... Calling Anthony Rawls not a just a neighbor.. But a friend.
<its just very stunning for everybody who lives here, because he would've given you the shirt off his back. He would do anything for his neighbors, for his family. Im just in shock.>
In Warner Robins, Lorra Lynch Jones, 13WMAZ, Eyewitness News>
Warner Robins police say an officer was treated for minor injuries.
Neither police...nor the GBI....have said how many officers were involved...or how many shots were fired.
The officers who fired shots...are on administrative leave during the investigation. Their names have not been released.
The GBI's Perry office has not returned our phone calls.
When a case needs a closer eye to make sure protocol is followed ... The Macon Police Department has an internal investigations division dedicated to policing itself.
But some city council members say... the city should have some of that power.
By a 4 to 1 vote this afternoon... A council committee supported a proposal to give the city more oversight of police internal investigations.
If full council approves next week... the city's chief administrative officer would have a handle on internal investigations.... Instead of the chief of police alone.
Just one member of the council public safety committee voted no today.
That was Nancy White.
she says she likes the idea... but wants to hear Chief Mike Burns' reaction before going forward.
Katelyn Heck is at today's meeting... And will have more on Eyewitness News at 11.
Warner Robins police say an officer was treated for minor injuries.
Neither police...nor the GBI....have said how many officers were involved...or how many shots were fired.
The officers who fired shots...are on administrative leave during the investigation. Their names have not been released.
The GBI's Perry office has not returned our phone calls.
An early morning blaze ravaged a home in Eatonton... sending the family of five to the hospital.
Judy Le spoke to an extended family member about what happened and how the injuries may have been avoided.
<there's that couch right there along that wall that evidently caught a fire>
Flames erupted in a house off Madison Hwy in Eatonton around 5-am. The Evans family... were alerted by 12-year-old...Angel.
<she was getting a drink of water and then she said it sounded like popping. It was popping>
That popping came from the living room. Officials say the cause was electrical -- It was an overheated computer cord..right next to a couch.. that sparked the fire.
<they talked about it like it was a campfire. It was at that wall between the 12 year old's bedroom and the sofa>
The fire sent three -- the parents and their 6 year-old son -- to the Augusta Burn Center.
<i would list them all in serious to critical condition based on the reason and the heat that was inside the building>
There were three other family members that weren't so lucky..
<one big white bull dog and a little baby one, and a cat>
Fire officials say they could not find any smoke detectors in the home. The red cross is assisting the Evans with material losses.
But a family member who lives nearby says the emotional shock is the hardest part.
<it's overwhelming. It's one that will knock you down and hard to get back up you know>
Judy Le 13wmaz eyewitness news
Again... Fire officials say there were no functioning smoke detectors found in the home. They say injuries can be avoided with smoke detectors and a planned escape route.
The head of the Transportation Security Administration is sticking to his guns when it comes to allowing small knives on planes.
John Pistole is expected to defend his decision Thursday at a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee.
And it's not just knives...
Golf clubs, souvenir baseball bats, and other sporting gear would also be permitted.
Still off limits... Box cutters, razors, and larger knives.
Nonetheless, it's enough to make some pilots, flight attendants and members of Congress sound the alarm.
<"It's very simple to say no knives on board. What is the tsa going to do now, have arguments with people about how big the knife is? This is going to slow down security, it won't speed it up. And it won't have the desired effect. Security is a layered approach. And flight attendants are the last line of defense in that security. Do not make our lives harder in doing our jobs.">
The TSA says it brings the United States in line with international rules.
What you may not know...is that guns *are* allowed to travel...but that's only if they're unloaded... and locked into checked baggage with a hard-shell case.
The need for caution may seem obvious...but the TSA says lots of passengers still aren't getting the message.
In fact...the airport with the highest number of firearms to turn up at security checkpoints...is about an hour or so to our north.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta led the nation with 80 guns found last year... followed closely by Dallas.
The TSA reports more gun confiscations at airports in southern states.
It's not clear if the increase is because more people are traveling with weapons or if T-S-A screeners and new technologies are doing a better job at finding them.
A Georgia Pre-K teacher is accused of punishing a 4 year old student by locking him in a closet bathroom.
Barclay Bishop explains how, some say, discipline went too far... and how it's now the teacher being disciplined.
<
"How can a teacher do this to a 4 year old? To any child? To any student?"
IT'S A QUESTION THAT TRACEY QUARLES, AND HER DAUGHTER LATANYA MURRAY, HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR WEEKS NOW.
MURRAY'S 4 YEAR OLD SON, MAKING ALLEGATIONS THAT WHEN HE IS BAD, HIS PRE-K TEACHER AT COPELAND ELEMENTARY, FRANCINE WYNN, WILL LOCK HIM IN THIS CLOSET - LOCATED IN THE CLASSROOM.
"As a mother I had a tear in my eye because I was like 'what?"
MURRAY TELLS US THAT SHE FIRST HEARD OF THE PROBLEM FROM HER SON'S PRINCIPAL, KIMBERLY DAVIS, WHEN SHE FIRST SUSPECTED SOMETHING IN DECEMBER.
WHEN THE BOY DENIED SOMETHING WAS WRONG, DAVIS TOOK NO FURTHER ACTION.
"I was not aware that the parent was not contacted immediately."
TWO MONTHS LATER, MURRAY TELLS US A PARAPROFESSIONAL REPORTED THAT SHE SAW THE BOY BEING PUT IN THE CLOSET.
THAT'S WHEN THE PRINCIPAL CALLED A MEETING WITH MURRAY AND HER SON.
"She said 'Jaiden, tell me what's going on in Ms. Wynn's class.' My son looked at me...I said...'tell Ms. Davis what's going on.' And he said - well 'Ms. Wynn be locking me in the closet, beating me with a spoon, thumping me, and locking me in the bathroom and turn the lights out.'"
RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT, FRANK ROBERSON, SAYS WYNN WAS IMMEDIATELY PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, AND THAT THE ALLEGATIONS ARE NOT BEING TAKEN LIGHTLY.
"Discipline is a good thing, it should be a positive thing, and in this particular case of course that did not happen, and that concerns us."
MURRAY AND HER MOTHER SAY THERE HAS TO BE MORE THAT CAN BE DONE, AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT UNTIL SOMETHING MORE IS.
"If that was me, locking my child in a closet, you would have had my behind locked up within 10 seconds. I want justice, I want her locked up and I'm not going to stop until Jaiden gets due process."
>
School leaders say they'll take further action if investigators determine the teacher should face criminal charges.
One high school in Dublin may soon be completely self-powered With a little help from the sun.
Tom George found how new solar panels could put the Green City at the center of Georgia's move toward greener energy.
At the home of the fighting Irish ... It's all about the green ... Now that's true in more ways than one.
< It'll have the capacity to do all of the Dublin High campuses power, which includes the school, the field house, the central office, all of this campus, it'll have the power on a sunny day. >
New solar panels set to be installed will allows the school to power itself, and even have some left over back in the grid.
< We're two three different types of projects in one .. Most projects, you usually just have a ground mount or just a roof mount system, this will have a tracker that follows the sun.>
And for a school district facing financial challenges, they say it'll also save money.... For a 3.5 million lease over 25 years, they'll start out by saving 100,000 this year and avoiding a teacher furlough that was set to take effect...
Local leaders say it might also make Laurens County a hotspot for international business.
< MAGE Solar is a German company producing the panels, that's led to other German locations, a Danish company location, really making us a international point for manufacturing looking to come to the United States. >
And a leader in green energy....
< Now solar energy is still getting its start in Georgia, and is still pretty uncommon, but Dublin hopes to be on the cutting edge .. Once these solar panels are put in, this location alone will control 5 percent of the solar energy in the state. >
In shamrock country, it's a perfect fit...
< Going green in Dublin is always a good thing. >
Tom George, 13WMAZ Eyewitness News.
Ledbetter says the project is the only one paid for by bonds in the state of Georgia.
In our 13WMAZ-dot-com web poll today...we asked... Would you consider powering your home with solar energy?
74 percent of you...are open to the idea.
Only 26 percent said now.
Weigh in now... You'll find the poll at 13WMAZ-dot-com.
Look for the question on the right side of the homepage.
A touch of Hazzard County in Central Georgia this weekend...as Bo, Daisy, and the gang showed up in Peach County ...
13WMAZ was there...and got lots of face-time with the stars.
Right now, we're showing you our Dukes of Hazzard Georgia Reunion photo gallery... You can look at that on our 13WMAZ mobile aps for I-Pad, I-Phone,, and Android....and also at 13WMAZ-dot-com.
Just a few minutes ago...we spoke to organizer Chris Jennifer. He said their final head count for the weekend was just over 53 thousand people over three days.
He said the reunion was so successful...he hopes to do it again next year...same time...same place.
Jennings says some Dukes cast members...have already agreed.