EAST POINT, Ga. — A school district is responding after a former coach says he was initially terminated for preventing a possible school shooting.
Coach Kenneth Miller told Channel 2′s Tom Jones he received a video in August showing guns on campus at Tri-Cities High School.
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Miller said he immediately jumped into action with the principal’s blessing.
We previously reported Miller went to the student with the guns and confronted her. That’s when an altercation began, which led to his termination.
Video of the incident shows Miller questioning the student. The Fulton County School District admits the student was highly agitated and aggressive. She smacked a phone out of Miller’s hands. He then pushed her into a whiteboard.
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“It all happened in a second,” Miller said.
The student pushed Miller into a bookcase. Officers had to shock the girl with a Taser to get her under control.
A school district investigative report said a loaded gun was found in the student’s book bag after the altercation.
Miller was later fired. He said he was defending himself and trying to save lives.
“We really saved lives that day. And nobody wants to pay attention to the fact that we took guns,” Miller said.
During a termination hearing, Miller’s attorney, Allen Lightcap, says the district halted the hearing, deciding to pursue suspension.
Lightcap wants the termination hearing to continue so Miller can clear his name.
“Drop the termination. Drop the suspension. Put him back to work at Tri-Cities High School,” Lightcap said.
Miller said he shouldn’t have been terminated and he doesn’t deserve a suspension.
“Why should I just take a suspension. Take money out of my family’s mouth,” Miller said.
A Fulton County Schools spokesperson released the following statement Thursday:
“The district administration does not support Mr. Miller’s actions relating to this event and believes his conduct failed to meet the professional expectations it has for employees. Mr. Miller inappropriately intervened in a student matter being handled by school administrators and law enforcement. Mr. Miller acted outside of the scope of his authority and responsibilities. Mr. Miller’s conduct resulted in an escalation of a physical altercation with a student in crisis, which conflicts with district expectations to deescalate in these types of situations. Mr. Miller has not exhausted his due process rights at this time and remains on full, paid administrative leave. The district will not engage Mr. Miller or his attorneys in a public debate on this matter, but instead will allow the facts to drive the outcome of any related decision.”
Miller’s attorney says the statement indicates his client is on full paid administrative leave, but the attorney shared a document from the district that states he is suspended without pay.
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