CHAMBLEE, Ga. — The student arrested on suspicion of trying to sell stolen guns outside of Chamblee Charter High School Tuesday is now facing nine charges, including burglary.
Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh spoke to a man who says the suspect stole the guns from him.
Steve Hyslip lives behind Chamblee Charter High School. He said that on his way home Tuesday afternoon, he saw all the police activity surrounding the school.
Hyslip said when he walked into his home, his house was ransacked and four of his firearms were gone.
"My bedroom was totally ransacked," Hyslip told Kavanaugh.
Police say a student tipped them off that another student was flashing the handguns, asking about where to sell them and how much he could get for them.
Police said once they took the student into custody, he led them to a cache of weapons he had hidden near the school football field.
The cache included two rifles, two loaded pistols, ammunition and a sword.
"During yesterday's event he never made any threats to the high school or claims he was going to do anything against the high school," said Chamblee Police Chief Marc Johnson.
Johnson told Kavanaugh he believes the theft was an attempt to make some quick cash.
Police won't identify the 16 year old but say they charged him with nine counts for the burglary, possession of the guns and carrying them unlawfully so close to a school.
"It could have been bad, of course. I was glad they caught the kid," Hyslip said.
In the midst of all this, the principal at Chamblee Charter High School placed the students and the school on lockdown.
"The SRO (student resource officer) had received some information related to a student having a gun," Principal Rochelle Lowery told Kavanaugh. "From there everybody went into action."
Lowery placed the school on a level-3 lockdown.
During the lockdown, students hide away in the corner, away from any windows or doors. They all huddle together. They don't need to get on the ground, but they're asked to stay in one spot so that they're not even heard.
"We know now what was going on yesterday, but at the time, everything being inside the building, I didn't know what was going on outside," Lowery said.
Lowery said she knew she had students and staff to protect. She said her students and staff practice for moments like this.
The lockdown lasted close to 30 minutes.
Parents were upset that 90 minutes passed before the school sent out an official notification to them.
Kavanaugh asked Lowery about that. She said the secretary had internet connection issues, and that glitch created the delay.
The school district says because of that they will be looking at ways to improve the system.
WSBTV
