Man In Custody After SWAT Standoff Near DeKalb School

DECATUR, GA — A man is in police custody after a SWAT standoff near McLendon Elementary School prompted a Level 1 lockdown Tuesday at the school, DeKalb County Police said.

Police said the hourslong standoff ended shortly after 4 p.m. with the man taken into custody without incident. He is accused of shooting at construction workers in the area.

No one was injured, and the suspect is being charged on suspicion of four counts of aggravated assault, police said.

McLendon's lockdown lasted through dismissal, DeKalb County School officials told Patch.

Police confirmed to Patch shortly before 3 p.m. that SWAT was at the scene in the 3000 block of Vista Brook Drive after officers responded to a person armed, discharging firearms call.

School officials were notified of the shooting around 10:20 a.m., the district said.

Police said when officers arrived, someone left the home; however, the suspect stayed inside and refused to exit. SWAT was then activated to the scene.

McLendon Principal Raft Ingram notified families of the police activity in a message earlier in the day. Patch has obtained a copy of the message, where Ingram said all students and staff were safe.

"The only (dismissal) modification was for students who live and walk to the 2000 block of Vista Brook (Drive). Families were asked to pick those children up from school today," school officials told Patch around 2:45 p.m.

However, at 3:03 p.m., the school district alerted media that "due to updated information, families at McLendon Elementary School have been informed that all students who typically walk home will be staying at school until they can be picked up by family members or other approved individuals."