ATLANTA (AP) — The Latest on a high school teacher accused of firing a gunshot in his classroom in north Georgia (all times local): Authorities…
ATLANTA (AP) — The Latest on a high school teacher accused of firing a gunshot in his classroom in north Georgia (all times local):
Authorities say a Georgia teacher accused of firing a shot from a handgun out of a classroom window has waived his first court appearance, and will likely face a judge next week.
Police said 53-year-old social studies teacher Jesse Randal Davidson is accused of barricading himself inside a classroom at Dalton High School and firing the weapon, sending some students running and others hiding on Wednesday.
No one was hit by the shot, fired toward a neighborhood across the street from the school northwest of Atlanta.
Whitfield County sheriff’s Capt. Wes Lynch says it appears likely that Davidson will have an appearance scheduled for Tuesday in Whitfield County Superior Court. He faces six charges including aggravated assault; terroristic threats and acts; and having a weapon on school property.
Police in north Georgia say a teacher accused of causing chaos at his high school by firing a gunshot in his classroom used a computer bag to conceal the weapon as he brought it into school.
Dalton police spokesman Bruce Frazier said investigators believe social studies teacher Jesse Randal Davidson brought the .38-caliber snub-nose revolver into Dalton High School before the school day began on Wednesday. The school is a gun-free zone, but does not have metal detectors.
Frazier police believe Davidson owns the gun. The 53-year-old teacher is accused of barricading himself inside a classroom and firing the weapon, sending students fleeing for their lives and causing a lockdown on campus. No one was hit.
The incident adds fuel an intense debate over whether teachers should be armed as a way to make schools safer.
When a gunshot was fired from a classroom in the north Georgia mountains and police identified the gunman as a teacher, it immediately pierced the national debate over whether educators should be armed.
Students were already venting on social media as police arrested Dalton High School social studies teacher Jesse Randal Davidson on Wednesday.
In one tweet shared thousands of times, a Dalton student wrote: “I dare you to tell me arming teachers will make us safe.”
The 53-year-old teacher is accused of barricading himself inside a classroom and firing a handgun, sending students running outside or hiding in a darkened gym locker. No one was hit.
Dalton police said the teacher provided no motive when he was interviewed by detectives. He remained jailed Wednesday evening on a half-dozen criminal charges.
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