Atlanta

Police: Sandy Springs teacher bought gun after being placed on leave

By Mike Petchenik, WSB-TV
By Mike Petchenik, WSB-TV

ATLANTA — A former Sandy Springs high school basketball coach is facing charges after police say he bought a gun and loaded it during a traffic stop.

Police said his actions led to a lockdown at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School on Mount Vernon Highway, where he once worked.

Sandy Springs police said it started after school officials confronted now former school basketball coach Terry Kelly about sending inappropriate texts and e-mails to former students.

School officials said that after the school put Kelly on leave, he drove to a sporting goods store and bought a gun and ammunition.

Officers pulled him over.

The school was placed on lockdown from about 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday as police investigated. Students told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik that they were told to go in a closet during the lockdown.

Petchenik spoke to students outside the school about the lockdown.

"We were just in class like normally and they were like, 'Oh my gosh, everyone just get in the closet. This is not a drill.' We just got in the closet, and it was really scary and we were in there for like an hour and thirty minutes," student Ansley Williams said.

Parent Kristen Little rushed to the school after her daughter texted her.

"It was a little scary, a lot scary, especially when she texted back and said she was scared,” Little said.

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Student Ben Brown described a chaotic scene.

"All of a sudden, they went on the intercom, we heard there was a lockdown.  They told us to go into a room in the school and they locked the doors," Brown said.

The school sent us a statement saying they took the situation seriously and that Kelly never made it onto campus.

Police said they will not charge Kelly for the texts or e-mails that went to the students.

Cox Media Group

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