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Deputies: Georgia woman brings gun to Eustis High School

By Jason Kelly
By Jason Kelly

EUSTIS, Fla. — A 20-year-old Georgia woman was arrested Monday afternoon for bringing a gun to Eustis High School in response to a fight between two male students during dismissal, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators said Lake County Deputy Adam Tytler, a school resource officer, was called to the school's administration office after two male students were sent to the office for fighting.

Tytler was heading to the office when he noticed Tershia Richmond walking from the office to a car waiting in the pickup line, deputies said.

Investigators said Richmond threatened one of the students, saying she was going to get a gun and shoot him.

Read: Man fatally shot in Eustis, police say

Tytler saw Richmond grab a gun from the car, put it in her pocket and walk toward the school, deputies said.

Investigators said Tytler drew his gun, ordered Richmond to the ground and arrested her. They said the gun had been stolen from South Carolina.

"Had he wasted any time, things could have been much different, much worse," Lake County Lt. John Herrell said.

Richmond was arrested on charges of possession of a firearm on school property, possession of stolen property and carrying a concealed firearm without a permit.

She was expected to appear in court Tuesday, but officials said she refused to show up.

Read: 10 cars set on fire outside Eustis pathology lab, police say

"The two males who were involved in the fight have been having ongoing verbal confrontations over the last week, and it is apparent that Richmond was upset about today's fight on behalf of one of the males," the Sheriff's Office said in a news release. "Deputies are confident that Richmond's intent was to enact revenge over the scuffle, and they are certain that she never intended to target anyone else at the school."

Investigators said Richmond is a family friend of one of the students involved in the fight. They said one of the student's mothers was in the car that contained the gun. She is cooperating with detectives and will not be charged.

Records said Richmond had been previously arrested in 2013 on charges of burglary and grand theft after she was accused of stealing video games at a flea market. She was also arrested in 2016 after being accused of burglarizing a Mount Dora home, records said.

The incident remains under investigation.

Cox Media Group

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