Police say a large group of teens believed to be armed led to the lockdown of two schools in downtown Decatur.
As many as 30 or more teens approached the entrance to Decatur High School around 3 p.m. Thursday, while students were in class, police said.
A bus driver who didn't recognize any of the young people as students there, called the school resource officer who called Decatur police.
When officers approached, the teens scattered and ran, but police caught eight of them, Decatur deputy police chief Keith Lee said.
"One had ammunition in his pockets, which made us concerned that there were weapons" brought on the campus, Lee said.
Police ordered Decatur High and Renfroe Middle School, about a quarter of a mile away, locked down around 3:30 p.m., City Schools of Decatur spokeswoman Maria Lewis.
About 55 minutes later, students who ride the bus or go home by car were permitted to leave. Students who walk were detained at the school until about 4:50 p.m. when police cleared the scene, Lewis said.
It's uncertain why the teens came to Decatur High, Lee said.
Decatur Police said no students were injured, but they were taking precautions and looking for several teenagers seen outside the high school.
Lewis said she could not release any details, but said no Decatur students were involved.
Lee said the teens who were detained were believed to be students from DeKalb Alternative School, nearly six miles away in Stone Mountain.
An automated phone system has called parents to report the lockdown. Students walking home were also ordered back to the building, parents said.
About 775 students attend the high school and about 500 students attend the middle school, according to the Georgia Department of Education.
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