Local

Shooting at Price Middle School

January 31st, 2013

A 14-year-old male student was shot on the campus of Price Middle School in Southeast Atlanta. A suspect was disarmed and arrested by the school resource officer.

At a press conference, Atlanta Public Schools superintendent Erroll Davis said that the victim was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. He added that he understands from the victim’s family that they are hoping he will be released later this evening.

Superintendent Davis did not give many details about how the shooting took place, or why. He said the investigation is ongoing and that they will be getting more information tomorrow.

He did say that the school has an off-duty police officer serving as the resource officer. The school also has metal detectors, and Davis said one of the questions they still have is how the student was able to get past the metal detectors.

The press conference had been delayed for almost 90 minutes, which Davis said was due to the time it took to notify the parents by email, text message, or phone call.

Price Middle School, located south of downtown Atlanta, has approximately 400 students.

Selected audio from the Atlanta Public Schools/Atlanta Police Department press conference held late this afternoon.

Superintendent Davis said in the press conference that the investigation is continuing, and police continue to be on the scene.

APS had asked parents to stay away from the school because it was on what Superintendent Davis called “hard lockdown” following the shooting. The lockdown has been lifted and the students have been sent home. Students who walk or carpool to school were transported to Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1582 Bickers Drive, where they could be picked up by their parents.

As the incident unfolded, both APD and APS issued statements.

At 3:15 the Atlanta Police Department issued the following:

For immediate release

Around 1:50 p.m. today, Atlanta Police responded to reports of a person shot at Price Middle School in southeast Atlanta. On arrival, officers discovered a student had been shot outside of the building. The student has been transported alert, conscious and breathing to Grady hospital. A suspect, tentatively identified as a student, has been taken into custody. All remaining students are safe at this time. Atlanta Public Schools officials are on hand to ensure an orderly dismissal while police investigate the circumstances of the shooting. Further information may be forthcoming at a news briefing. Thanks for your patience.

At 3:29 p.m. the Atlanta Public Schools released the following statement:

An Atlanta Public Schools student has suffered a gunshot injury at Price Middle School, and has been transported to Grady Hospital. Price Middle School has been placed on lockdown and all other students are safe. A suspect, also a student at Price Middle School, has been apprehended, and is in police custody. This is currently a police matter, and APS security and APD officers are on the scene. Price students will be dismissed at their regular dismissal time, and buses will run on their normal schedule. APS will hold a press conference at the Center for Leadership and Learning (CLL), 130 Trinity Ave, Atlanta, GA 30303 at 4:00 pm.