Campus locked down until law enforcement gives clearance to leave site
Anxious parents and family members flocked to Trembling Earth Sports Complex Monday, adjacent to Ware County High School, after word began spreading across social media of a possible active shooter on the high school campus.
The Ware County School System issued a text at 1:14 p.m., September 23, updating those with family members at the school.
“Parents, a lock down is in effect at WCHS right now after reports of a shot fired were received. Law enforcement officials are in the process of clearing the campus.
“At at this time, we do not believe there is an active shooter situation as no evidence has been found to that effect, but we are taking the threat seriously and following our established protocols.
“We will be releasing students from the high school once the building is cleared. Parents will receive information about pick up times and locations. Please don’t come to the campus at this time as it is blocked off.
“We will continue to send updates as they become available.”
The Ware County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement via Facebook at approximately 1:30 p.m.
“Ware County Sheriff's Office responded in reference to an incident at the Ware County High School. Numerous deputies and detectives assisted in securing the property while verifying that no one was hurt.
“No one is believed to be hurt as a result of this incident at this time.”
The intersection of South Georgia Parkway (Corridor Z) and Victory Drive soon became a traffic nightmare. Non-emergency vehicles were kept from entering Victory Drive.
Many parents walked the 1.25 miles in the 92degree mid-day heat to the Trembling Earth Sports Complex where they had been told they would be reunited with their teen children.
Among those parents was Loretta Solomon, who left her job mid-shift to try to reach her 11th grade son.
“I am very scared, nervous, concerned,” said Solomon. “My nerves are all over the place until I can actually see my child.”
One senior texted from within the school, “We all thought it was a drill, and then it was taking too long. I still didn’t know if it was a drill or not until we got moved to the cafeteria by the police. There are so many of them here. I’m glad I’m not hurt, but this is terrifying.”
Students were eventually sent back to their classrooms to assure the accountability of every student and to allow for an orderly release.
As parents waited in the parking lot under the unrelenting sun, they began to grow restless with the lack of information coming from the school.
Paents finally received a text at approximately 2 p.m. stating students would begin being released starting with car riders. They quickly returned to their vehicles to retrieve their panicked children.
Ware County School Superintendent Bert Smith stated via Facebook, “Law enforcement responded promptly, and after a thorough search, we can confirm that our campus has been cleared, and there is NO EVIDENCE that a shooting occurred.”
Smith announced counselors and mental health professionals will be available for students at WCHS and there will be additional police presence.
The frightening events at WCHS follow the September 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga. Fourteen- year-old Colt Gray killed two students and two teachers with an AR-15 style semi-automatic weapon.
