School Under Lockdown After Shootings

A DeKalb County school was placed in lockdown Wednesday -- and could remain that way for days -- following two separate shootings in four days.

On Tuesday, a 15-year-old student was shot in the back at a MARTA bus stop near the campus of McNair High School. He is expected to survive. A 19-year-old who is not a McNair student was shot at the same bus stop after a basketball game at the school Friday night (see related story).

School officials told 11Alive News that police have informed them that they are close to arresting a suspect in Tuesday's shooting.

During a news conference Wednesday morning, McNair principal James Jones said additional police protection has been provided at the school. Three to four police cars as well as seven or eight police officers were visible, as well as police dogs, at the campus.

The dogs were used to conduct an unannounced check of lockers for contraband. Authorities did not say if anything was found.

Principal Jones said he wanted to assure parents that they are doing the best they can to insure their student's safety at school. Jones said most of the school's 1,286 students showed up for class Wednesday.

Audreanna Bond, 15, arrived on time but her mother, who worked an overnight shift, yanked her out of class upon hearing of Tuesday's shooting.

"At the end of the day, I just need to make sure that my daughter comes home in one piece. They come to school to get an education and funeral planning is just not my thing," Latrice Taylor told 11Alive's Paul Crawley.

Audreanna said she felt safe at the school but, "I feel real good that she cares and came to pick me up because she's real concerned. I feel pretty safe with all the security around, but if I was here yesterday after school, I probably wouldn't have felt safe."

Both mother and daughter said there is a problem at the school with non-students who loiter in the area after classes are released each day.

Jones admitted during his news conference that has been a problem at McNair for some time. He said the school is trying to work with police and the community to address that. Jones said he is not aware of any gang activity or whether that's related to the shootings.

School officials said they have asked MARTA officials to try and relocate the bus stop where the shootings occurred. They want it moved directly in front of the school where it is more visible and more easily protected.