MCRAE-HELENA, Ga. — Telfair County Middle School's principal removed a post Tuesday showing three high school students in their prom outfits holding guns.
Principal Christopher Ellis is also the owner of CL Defense in McRae-Helena. The post went up on his business page, but Ellis shared it on his personal Facebook, too. He says he posted it to promote his business, but Debra Ellis — no relation — fears other students will want to follow the lead.
She has nieces and nephews in the school system. Ellis lost her daughter, Patrice, to a knife wound in 2017. She lost her niece Shamarion Austin to an accidental gunshot.
"When she pulled this way, he pulled back on the trigger," she said, talking about the moment Austin, 14, tried to take the gun from her 7-year-old brother.
In the wake of their deaths, Debra Ellis has called for an end to violence, but she says pictures like these don't help.
"It's never going to end as long as you're promoting it at the wrong time. You're promoting it at prom? Every child at that prom thought that was cool," she said.
Principal Ellis' business posted the picture on Facebook Saturday, captioned, 'Sheer Elegance.' It went up the night of Telfair County High School's prom, but he says it wasn't a prom picture.
He says it has nothing to do with school, but Debra Ellis says his position means it has everything to do with it.
"Why don't you all teach them about violence and the do's and don'ts of guns? Instead, you're promoting it, and these children feel like, 'Well if Mr. Ellis lets his children hold a gun, why can't we?' And it's wrong on all counts," she said.
In a post to CL Defense's page late Tuesday, Principal Ellis said, "Over the years, I have posted many pictures and videos of my children at various ages shooting and handling firearms, always in a safe manner. I thought that this photo would be no different. Perhaps, I made a miscalculation."
Superintendent Lenard Harrelson, Jr. responded by email: "There is no indication that the picture you provided was taken at any official school event."
You can read Principal Ellis' full statement here:
"As a father to 3 young men, I take firearm safety very seriously. Proper training and usage of firearms have always been a priority in my home. I recently posted a picture of two of my children, as well as the child of my business partner, dressed in formal attire holding firearms. I viewed it as having a “James Bond” vibe that would be a good promo for CL Defense. Over the years, I have posted many pictures and videos of my children at various ages shooting and handling firearms, always in a safe manner. I thought that this photo would be no different. Perhaps, I made a miscalculation. To that end, I have removed the picture, and I truly apologize for any grief, offense, or anger that I have caused anyone.
Sincerely,
Chris"