This past week, a fatal altercation occurred at Milledgeville’s own Buffalo Wild Wings. A fight had broken out between two employees of the popular chain restaurant. The manager of the establishment was shot dead as the fight escalated.
Originally beginning as an argument between Store Manager Nytavious Stone and Restaurant Employee Micha Shannon Brown, it progressed into a physical altercation. While reports are unclear, responding police assume that the incident began inside the restaurant and progressed to the parking lot, where the police were then called by an onlooker.
During this time, Brown’s twin brother, William Shannon Brown, arrived at the restaurant during the fight and reportedly assisted in the initial physical assault of Stone. He was later arrested on charges of aggravated assault.
Responding officers were already en route when the fight was upgraded to a shooting. There, they discovered Stone with a gunshot wound. He was later admitted to Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin in Milledgeville, where he was pronounced dead.
Micha Shannon Brown was arrested under charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
According to CrimeGrade.org, Milledgeville, GA, is ranked in the 29th percentile for safety, meaning it is less safe than 71% of counties in the United States.
GCSU students speak to their personal sense of security on campus and within Baldwin County.
“I feel like Milledgeville has been like that for a while,” said Jane Walmsley, a junior English major. “Baldwin County is just incredibly impoverished and I’ve never felt super safe in Milledgeville. On campus, I do (feel safe), I mean, we have the blue lights, everything is very well lit and dangerous people tend to stay off campus.”
Students seem to echo this perspective on the relative safety of campus compared to the insecurity felt in Milledgeville’s various establishments. The presumed safety on campus grounds stems from the students’ trust in local safety resources, such as the emergency call boxes (blue lights) provided by the University.
Other students feel a growing sense of complacency surrounding gun violence and the growing prevalence of violence as a whole.
“I mean, shootings just happen,” said Tamara Bean, a senior Philosophy major. “You just pray it’s not your day, and that’s just the reality of the state of our country and our global time period. You can’t live in fear, I mean, shootings happen in schools, but you still have to go to school to get your education.”
This sense of desensitization reflects the growing fatigue surrounding gun violence, as many students believe it has become so routine that they feel it is best to accept it as a facet of daily life.
The shooting has sparked conversations about off-campus safety, especially for students who work in local businesses. Many students rely on restaurants, retail and service jobs to support themselves financially, which can bring them into conflict with the risks of working in Milledgeville.
Campus officials have also addressed the incident. Director of Public Safety and Chief of GCSU Police, Wes Hardin, noted that while the shooting occurred off-campus, the university is taking precautions to reassure students and increase awareness.
“It’s a team, it’s a team effort,” said Chief Hardin. “We depend on the GC communication, whether it be the vice president, or Cavalier, or people like you with the Colonnade, we get the information, then you push the information out.”
Chief Hardin’s remarks display the importance of communication between university resources and highlight the necessary collaboration between law enforcement, university leadership and student media. For students, this sense of coordinated effort offers reassurance that while tragedies may occur off campus, the university and local law enforcement remain united in prioritizing student safety.
“As we walk across campus… I have not heard anybody say, ‘Hey, I don’t feel safe,’ or, ‘Hey, this incident at Buffalo Wild Wings has me concerned.’… I haven’t noticed anybody asking questions about that,” said Chief Hardin.
Chief Hardin’s perspective reflects both confidence in campus security measures and trust in the systems and networks already in place.
The tragic escalation of violence at Buffalo Wild Wings has reignited difficult conversations about gun violence in Milledgeville and its impact on the local community.
While crime statistics paint a troubling picture for Baldwin County, the university’s emphasis on communication, vigilance and collaboration offers reassurance for the campus community.