Frightened students and teachers took cover for more than an hour Thursday morning after an intruder entered a Gwinnett County high school.
The intruder was found inside a Norcross High School classroom and taken into custody around noon, officials said. No students were hurt.
The unidentified intruder, a 15-year-old boy, had fought with a 16-year-old boy in a wooded area near the school and ran inside, police said. The 16-year-old, a former Norcross High student, was hospitalized with facial injuries, officials said. Both teenagers were questioned Thursday. Authorities said they were looking for another potential suspect, and for a gun some witnesses had reported, that may have left near the school campus. No gun was found.
Authorities were unsure which door the boy used to enter the school. They said he probably blended in with the students.
The drama began to unfold around 11 a.m. Thursday as students were headed to their fifth-period classes. Administrators locked down the school, literally locking classroom doors and ordering students inside. Students hid under desks in darkened classrooms as police searched for the intruder.
Some students called and sent text messages to their parents, sharing what little information they had about what was going on, sprinkled with thoughts of “I love you.” Some students cried through the ordeal.
“I just wanted to go home,” said sophomore Kiara Ross, 15, who was in constant contact with her mom. She was in a drama class at the time.
Her friend, Jamie Au, 15, said she thought, “I didn’t want to die today.”
Parents raced to the school, searching for any morsel of news. Some parents criticized authorities for not letting students leave during the search.
“Why’s everybody locked in the building?” one parent yelled as officials gave an update.
Officials tried to reassure the parents, saying the children were safe. Some parents thought authorities acted properly.
“I’m glad they were locked in a classroom so (the intruder) wouldn’t get in there,” said Constance Thrower.
Still, Thrower said she probably would not allow her daughter to come to school Friday.
The lockdown ended soon after 1 p.m. and the school allowed parents who decided to do so take their children home. After-school activities continued as normal.
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