Bibb Resident Upset About Kids Throwing Rocks at Cars Near School

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Four Bibb County students are facing criminal charges for throwing rocks at moving cars Friday afternoon.

Mary Smith, a Bibb County resident, was one of the targets. Her car has a small dent in the windshield, but Smith said when that rock hit her car, she thought it was a bullet.

“I heard a really loud pop in the windshield…my first thought was, could that have been a gun shot?” said Smith.

She was driving down Anthony Road when, according to a report from Bibb County Board of Education Police, four students walking from Ballard Hudson Middle School threw rocks at hers, and another woman’s car.

“She had a lot more damage than I did. The top of her car and the side of her car were damaged,” said Smith.

Although they weren’t on school property when it happened, David Gowan, the executive director of safety and risk management for Bibb Schools, says the incident happened within campus police jurisdiction.

“We don’t receive regular reports of this type of activity. However when it does occur, it does concern us greatly,” said Gowan.

The four kids accused of throwing the rocks are charged with criminal trespass.

“This type of activity is totally unacceptable, extremely dangerous and puts the public at risk,” said Gowan.

Gowan and Smith agree even worse than the damage, throwing rocks can cause serious injuries.

“It can put someone’s eye out, you can render them unconscious or semi-conscious and then they can walk into the path of the vehicle,” said Gowan.

“I have come to think of all the other things that could have happened with all the other children in the area,” said Smith.

Smith does feel fortunate that no one was injured, and her damage is minor, but is still upset she was caught in the crossfire.

“I’m still a little mad that this became my problem, a child’s good time became my problem,” said Smith.

Gowan asks that parents and volunteers help watch bus stops, and walk routes. Unfortunately, he said, there’s just not enough man power in the school district to keep eyes on the 24,000 kids going to and from school.

The students facing charges are set to appear in court in February, and could face disciplinary action at school as well.

Smith is hoping the students’ parents will pay for the damage to her car.