Around 9:20 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6, a soft lockdown at Pike County schools was lifted. According to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, “School resource and uniform patrol deputies responded to a report of a suspicious individual on school property this morning. School officials initiated a soft lockdown of the middle school until the person was located. Deputies, working with school staff, located the person and determined that there was no threat.”
The schools were under lockdown for around 35 minutes and the following message was sent out to parents after the lockdown was lifted.
“Our schools have now lifted the soft lockdown and given the all clear for normal activities. We will remain diligent in ensuring our doors are secured as we do every day. Thank you for your understanding as we remain aware of our surroundings and our desire to take precautionary measures when necessary,” said the message sent around 9:20 a.m.
The first message from the school system was sent around 8:45 a.m. and stated that although there was no known threat, schools would be placed under a soft lockdown as a precaution.
“This morning, we received a report of unusual activity near our schools. As a precaution, we have placed all schools on a “soft lockdown.” This means that everyone will stay in the building with the doors locked,” said the message. “At this time, there is no known threat. We will update as needed.”
Two teachers and two students were killed while nine others were injured after a school shooting in Winder, GA on Sept. 4.
Two students in Gwinnett County were arrested after making online threats stating there would be additional shootings at other schools – and even providing a list of the schools.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 14-year-old Colt Gray acted alone Sept. 4 when he opened fire with an AR-15 style weapon that he received as a Christmas gift. His father was arrested less than 36 hours after the school shooting and faces two counts of second-degree murder – the most severe ever filed against the parent of an alleged school shooter. Colin Gray, 54, was also charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter and eight counts of cruelty to children. His son, Colt Gray, was charged with four felony counts of murder.
The father “knowingly allowed him to possess the weapon. His charges are directly connected to the actions of his son,” said Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Colt had been investigated and interviewed about alleged online threats to shoot up the school a year ago but he told officials he did not do it.
Before his father’s arrest, the teen’s grandfather, Charles Polhamus, said he wanted Colin Gray charged along with his son.
“If he didn’t have a damn gun,” Polhamus said, “he wouldn’t have gone and killed anybody.”