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Metro Atlanta

Toni Braxton movie on DeKalb school shooting scare debuts this week

Laterrica Luther, right, held the hand of her 6 year-old nephew Jaden Culpepper, as students from Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy arrived on school buses to waiting loved ones in a Walmart parking lot after they were evacuated when a gunman entered the school, Aug. 20, 2013, in Decatur.

Credit: David Goldman

Credit: David Goldman

Laterrica Luther, right, held the hand of her 6 year-old nephew Jaden Culpepper, as students from Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy arrived on school buses to waiting loved ones in a Walmart parking lot after they were evacuated when a gunman entered the school, Aug. 20, 2013, in Decatur.
By Joshua Sharpe
Jan 23, 2018

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Toni Braxton is starring in a Lifetime movie debuting this week about the 2013 shooting scare at McNair Discovery Learning Academy.

The film, called "Faith Under Fire: The Antionette Tuff Story," will debut Saturday at 8 p.m. It's based on the book, "Prepared for a Purpose: The Inspiring True Story of How One Woman Saved an Atlanta School Under Siege."

Antionette Tuff, a bookkeeper credited with talking down the gunman before he could harm anyone, co-wrote the book.

RELATED: Book upsets Tuff's son

Tuff, played by Braxton, was at work in the front office of McNair on Aug. 20, 2013, when Michael Brandon Hill, 20, came into the school with a rifle.

Thanks to Tuff’s efforts to talk him into surrendering, no one was hurt.

A short film about the ordeal is also up for an Oscar.

RELATED: Lifetime page about Faith Under Fire movie

READ: Why five Atlanta Child Murders cases are still unsolved

READ: In Fulton and DeKalb, dozens of murder suspects out on bond

READ: Cops: DeKalb man's car gets towed, he threatens to kill all involved

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In other news: 

Credit: AJC

DeKalb County police believe Gregory Williams killed his grandmother. They say he attacked her with a "Rambo-style" knife and disposed of her body. Police still hadn't found the grandmother's body by Monday. The cops think she is dead because no one could lose as much blood as they found and live. Williams has been charged with kidnappy, aggravated assault and theft by taking.

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(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Getty, Unsplash)

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