Shooting Prompted Lockdown At New Manchester High

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Douglas County authorities are investigating a shooting involving an officer Wednesday in the area of New Manchester High School after reports of a male with a weapon at the school's Special Olympics event.

New Manchester and a nearby stadium was placed on a Code Red lockdown at 11:18 a.m. after opening ceremonies, and it ended at 12:45 p.m., Douglas County school officials said. Parents and families were immediately notified, school officials said.

An attendee notified authorities that a male with a gun was in the stadium. Douglas County School Police Chief Tracey Whaley said at a news conference the male was never inside of the school itself.

Officials told Patch all students are safe. Both school officials and authorities confirmed there was no shooting on the campus and no one at the school has been shot.

Capt. Trent Wilson, of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, said school resource officers attempted to approach the male accused of having a weapon, but he ran from the officers. The male is in his late teens to early 20s, Wilson said.

Deputies joined the police chase and a recovered cell phone led authorities to a Ferncrest Place home, Wilson said. When authorities arrived, they saw a male leaving the home before a brief conversation led to gunfire, Wilson said.

He said the male showed a gun but could not confirm if it was the male from the police chase though he matched the description given by the SROs. Following the gunfire exchange, the male was taken to a local hospital.

Wilson could not confirm if the male was a student.

"We are extremely grateful that all of our students are safe," said Portia Lake, executive director for the Douglas County School System. "They continue to always, always be our number one priority."

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe in the case.