Police say the report stemmed from two teens chasing each other with Airsoft guns.
No one was injured, and students were released about 20 minutes after their usual dismissal time, said Jeff Bearden, Rome City Schools superintendent.
“The staff and the principal at Southeast handled this just the way it was supposed to be handled,” Bearden said.
According to Bearden, someone reported to the principal that an armed man was seen chasing someone near the school. The principal then called 911 at 2:39 p.m.
“We placed the school on lockdown,” Bearden added. “Police arrived.”
Students usually leave the school about 2:45 p.m. Police allowed students to disperse on Tuesday at 3:05 p.m., Bearden said.
Officers later found an Airsoft weapon near the campus, the superintendent said. Police also found one of the teens initially thought to be an armed suspect, Sgt. Barry McElroy said.
“They were just running around playing, shooting each other,” McElroy said.
The sergeant anticipated no charges would be filed.
An Airsoft gun is not a true firearm, but instead shoots BBs. They can resemble actual weapons.
Southeast Elementary has 410 students. Classes return to normal on Wednesday, Bearden said.
Second- WHY WERE THESE TEENS NOT IN SCHOOL!!! If they are sick, they should be home. If they don't finish school so they are employable, we taxpayers will pay for them to sit on a porch, or stand in the middle of Crane St. Get an education and get a job people. Don't be owned by the Government.
Please have even a slightest clue to what you are talking about, when speaking to gun rights.
http://www.georgiacarry.org/
http://www.georgiapacking.org/
In the scenario you describe, school administrators should wait until the shooting starts before taking protective measures. Better to just say no, so you can tell right away if there might be a problem.
Common sense rules, especially when it comes to our children.
Gun Free zones, are zoo's of sitting ducks. That is why gun-men pick them, and obviously, seek not to be challenged.
Criminals do not care about law. I'd rather a responsible adult be able to defend my child in my place, than simply wait for the bodies hitting the floor to determine if a common sense situation is an actual threat.