Judge says murder suspect can stand trial

A Hall County judge says a White County teenager is competent to stand trial for murder: 19 year-old Talon Lowery is charged in the shooting of 18 year-old Brian Ramirez, who was killed at a convenience store in north Hall, a shooting Lowery is accused of recording on social media. It happened in November of last year.

A Hall County judge orders a 45 year-old Gainesville man held without bail after an alleged assault with a baseball bat: Joseph James is accused of hitting a woman with the bat; he’ll have a court hearing later this month in Gainesville.

A Hall County school disciplinary tribunal convenes today to take up the case of an 11 year-old who was caught with weapons last week at East Hall Middle School. The sixth grader was caught with a loaded handgun and a knife in his bookbag, weapons he apparently brought from his home in Hall County.

Two students at River Ridge High School in Woodstock are facing weapons charges. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says the guns were unloaded and were apparently intended to be used for off-campus target practice after school.