Americus Man Arrested for Bringing Stolen AR-15 to Georgia Southwestern State University, Prompting Active Shooter Reports

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested and charged Khamani Clayton, 19, of Americus, GA, with Theft by Receiving Stolen Property and Carrying Weapons within a School Safety Zone after he was found on the Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) campus with an AR-15.

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at approximately 11:25 a.m., the Americus Police Department contacted the GBI regarding a person with a rifle on the GSW campus. University police subsequently requested the GBI to lead the investigation.

Authorities determined that Clayton entered the campus in the early morning hours of April 23 and was seen near dormitories with the AR-15. He was later observed leaving the campus with the firearm, which triggered reports of an active shooter.

GBI agents, along with campus police, the Americus Police Department, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of Natural Resources, responded to the active shooter reports and cleared the campus, confirming there was no active threat to students. Clayton was taken into custody without incident by local law enforcement.

No shots were fired, and no students were harmed during the incident. Clayton was booked into the Sumter County Law Enforcement Center. The GBI investigation is ongoing.