DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has confirmed that the suspect in a killing in Dunwoody, who later died in a crash was a DeKalb County high school teacher.
Channel 2's Christian Jennings learned that Roy McClendon-Thompson was a popular teacher at McNair High School.
Dunwoody police said that McClendon-Thompson shot and killed James Curtis Jones in the Arrive Perimeter apartment complex early Monday.
When police went to confront him, they say the teacher started a chase into Clayton County and died in a head-on collision.
Police told us the two were lovers, and that accusations of cheating may have led to the shooting.
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Channel 2 learned Jones called 911 two days before the shooting because McClendon-Thompson threatened him over the phone.
Police told Channel 2 they investigated the claim, but the teacher claimed he was the one who had been threatened. They had no choice but to drop the case.
The officer advised both men to cease communication and wrote a report on what happened.
Channel 2's Richard Elliot spoke with Albert McCrusheon, who is one of the teacher's closest friends. He said he is still trying to make sense of what happened.
“I’ve never known him to be an enemy with anybody,” he said.
“There’s not one person who you could find that would say anything negative about Roy. Every time you saw him, in every picture, he has a big old smile on his face.”
Roger Moses lives in the teacher’s neighborhood. He was shocked when Jennings told him police accused his neighbor of murdering a man.
"That is totally, uh, diametrically opposed to his character. I’m floored. I’m almost speechless,” Moses said.
McNair High School's principal sent the following letter home to parents:
Dear McNair High School Parents:
It is with great sadness that we inform you that one of our teachers, Mr. Roy McClendon-Thompson, was killed in a car accident on yesterday.
To help our students and staff members deal with the sudden loss, we had grief counselors at school this morning. The Counselors facilitated individual, small group, and whole class sessions. The team of Grief Counselors will be on site tomorrow as well.
We do not have any details about Mr. McClendon’s services at this time. We will provide details once the family provides the information. Let’s encourage one another and keep the family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Kindest Regards,
Dr. Loukisha Walker, Principal