Shortly after he was let go from his job at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Sandy Springs, a “disgruntled” former employee purchased a weapon and ammunition, officials said.
The employee, identified as Terry Kelly by Sandy Springs police, was headed back in the direction of the 43-acre private school on Mount Vernon Highway when police took him into custody, prompting an hour-long lockdown that forced some students to hide in a school closet for safety, Sandy Springs police Capt. Mike Lindstrom said.
About 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Kelly, who had been with Holy Innocents’ for about 7½ years, met with school officials after they learned he sent inappropriate text messages and emails to former students, Lindstrom said. The contents of the text messages and emails have not been disclosed.
After the meeting, Kelly left Holy Innocents’, went to a Bass Pro Shops store, and bought the weapon and ammunition, Lindstrom said. The school had hired a private investigator to follow Kelly because “the school was concerned about how he may react when they had that meeting this morning,” Lindstrom said.
Police intercepted Kelly as he was loading the weapon he’d just purchased, Lindstrom said.
Kelly has been charged with reckless conduct and obstruction, Lindstrom said later Wednesday.
Kelly was listed as a boys basketball coach on the school website.
The school was placed on lockdown about 9:35 a.m. and a text alert was sent to parents, school spokeswoman Peggy Shaw said. The lockdown was lifted about 10:50 a.m.
However, officials canceled school for the rest of the day for safety reasons, Shaw said.
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