Teen charged for firing shot inside Conyers Middle School

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — An 8th grader is facing charges after police say he brought a gun to Conyers Middle School Tuesday.

The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office says the 14-year-old boy brought the gun with a single bullet to the school. The student fired one shot in the boy's bathroom around 1 p.m. Police do not believe the shot was fired at anyone or that the student intended to harm anyone.

The school was placed on lockdown for several hours Tuesday afternoon as parents waited outside.

Channel 2 Action News spotted Patrice Ivory among a large group of parents waiting anxiously in a staging area afterwards.

"The only thing I was thinking about was getting in touch with them and make sure she's safe,” parent Clive Allen said.

A small army of Rockdale sheriff's deputies and Conyers police raced to the school around 1:15 Tuesday afternoon. District leaders say a student fired one shot in the bathroom in what they called an isolated part of the building.

"A school employee did hear and then reacted to that sound," Cindy Ball with Rockdale County Schools said.

Deputies detained the student and recovered a weapon. No one was injured, but the sheriff still has a lot of questions.

"How did they get that weapon? Where did that weapon come from and of course why was it discharged and why was it brought into school, so we want all of those answers," Rockdale County Sheriff Levett said.

Police charged the student with possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of a weapon on school property, reckless conduct and false statements. He was taken to the Rockdale County Youth Detention Center.

State department of education records we pulled quickly show this is the first incident at the school involving a gun since the 2011-2012 school year when there were three.

We have confirmed there are no metal detectors at the school, but district leaders say there are many security measures in place.

Rockdale County Public Schools say they will take extra security measures for the remainder of the school year. Bookbags are no longer allowed and any that are brought to school will be searched by school officials.

WSBTV