Freaking out a bit...my kids school is on lockdown....armed suspect in woods.....

My youngest, 18 mo, goes to a mommy's morning out program at a school here in Atlanta. I started getting calls from their automated system at 9:30 this morning that the entire school is on lockdown and shelter in place warning. Apparently there is a suspect in some type of armed altercation that has taken to the woods behind the school and in very close proximity according to their updates. The police are all over the school and the woods behind it and have blocked all of the neighborhoods nearby. They KNOW the suspect is in the woods and is armed but have not found him yet....it is now 2:00 and she was supposed to be out at 11:45 but they are not letting anyone on or off campus.

I know that is for the security of the kids, but seriously.....give the parents some more updates already!

I can't find any news or information about it at all. If anyone can, it is happening in Sandy Springs, GA right now and has been going on since this morning.

Best to error on the side of caution.
Hope everything works out!

a reply to: Vasa Croe

This is the only report I have been able to find on it but this one doesn't mention that the suspect is considered armed.

Report

“Our current information from the police is that a suspect is still at large in the brush behind the school,” said an email to parents. “The police tell us there is no way to know how long this will continue; therefore, students will be dismissed via a controlled release.”

Apparently there are armed patrols releasing the kids one by one from a central point at the school right now. My wife is there waiting and freaking out too.

a reply to: Vasa Croe

The situation sounds well in hand, so your youngster is safe. News like this can make parents really afraid, but in this case all seems like it is being handled. Which is very good.

originally posted by: Aleister
a reply to: Vasa Croe

The situation sounds well in hand, so your youngster is safe. News like this can make parents really afraid, but in this case all seems like it is being handled. Which is very good.

Yeah, from the updates it sounds like things are under control, but from the presence of force my wife said was there, they really think this guy must be dangerous. Stray bullets are what I am worried most about if this suspect is indeed armed and desperate enough to try to shoot his way out. Though SSPD is one of the best around and I have a lot of faith in them.....just freaked that it is happening to a school where one of my kids is.

a reply to: Vasa Croe

I was just about to write the Sandy Springs Police are some of the most competent in the ATL metro...they will have people in position around the schools. They probably dont want a lot of people moving around hysterically in the area for the person to shoot. Thoughts are with you.

a reply to: Vasa Croe

And it's after times like these that you hug your children extra close, and although they love it, they also wonder what they have done to deserve such attention. When I was 21 I was in such a situation in another city and somehow my parents found out about it, though I wasn't aware of that. My parents called and left messages wanting me to go back home and were freaking out by suppertime because I hadn't called them. Now I'm a parent and fully understand that the protective wing is always on standby. I hope and trust everything turns out well.

a reply to: Vasa Croe

Your kids gonna be just fine, Vasa.
As much as we bash the police on ATS they are protecting them, and will do to the best of their ability.

I know it's scary for you but hang in there. You'll get the all clear when it's safe to go pick up junior, and hold them just that little bit harder.

It's one armed man against a whole force, he doesn't stand a chance of getting near the kids.

Cody

I am sure everything will turn out fine, the worst part is having no info.

What is a "mommy's morning out program"?

I could not imagine dropping my 18 month old child off anywhere for other people to watch.

I raised 5 kids and am now helping with 4 grand kids. In my opinion at 18 Months they should be with the parents.

I guess it's different times, when my step daughter goes ANYWHERE she wants a babysitter where I always took my kids everywhere I went except work and my parents babysat them then.

I got a divorce due to infidelity (a few times) and got full custody of my kids and raised them as a single guy which was very hard, actually harder than a single woman. There are a lot of programs for single women and kids but I found out that as a man I didn't qualify......silly right?

originally posted by: mwood
I am sure everything will turn out fine, the worst part is having no info.

What is a "mommy's morning out program"?

I could not imagine dropping my 18 month old child off anywhere for other people to watch.

I raised 5 kids and am now helping with 4 grand kids. In my opinion at 18 Months they should be with the parents.

I guess it's different times, when my step daughter goes ANYWHERE she wants a babysitter where I always took my kids everywhere I went except work and my parents babysat them then.

I got a divorce due to infidelity (a few times) and got full custody of my kids and raised them as a single guy which was very hard, actually harder than a single woman. There are a lot of programs for single women and kids but I found out that as a man I didn't qualify......silly right?

Mommy's morning out is from 8:30 - 11:45 for toddlers. It is a Montessori program at a great school that I had my oldest daughter go through as well. They teach them a lot that I don't have the knowledge to teach and they understand how children learn. They learn from older children in the same classes that are doing things they can't do yet, such as potty training and dexterity skills and whatnot.

Haven't gotten an update from the school yet but I have a lot of faith in the SSPD...they are the best in the area. Wife is still waiting at the school.

a reply to: Vasa Croe

Itll be ok...most bad guys will keep on moving or be caught pretty fast...he/she has probably left the area and they are just being safe. Good luck

When my daughter was in grade school she had lock downs happen probably half a dozen times. Armed robberies in the area. (high crime rate in this city) I used to volunteer at the school so I was there for a couple of them. Kids got grumpy during them because they couldn't go out for recess. The police/ambulance helicopters would sometimes land in the playground so that was exciting for them. Kinda made up for missing recess outside ...

originally posted by: mwood
I am sure everything will turn out fine, the worst part is having no info.

What is a "mommy's morning out program"?

I could not imagine dropping my 18 month old child off anywhere for other people to watch.

I raised 5 kids and am now helping with 4 grand kids. In my opinion at 18 Months they should be with the parents.

I guess it's different times, when my step daughter goes ANYWHERE she wants a babysitter where I always took my kids everywhere I went except work and my parents babysat them then.

I got a divorce due to infidelity (a few times) and got full custody of my kids and raised them as a single guy which was very hard, actually harder than a single woman. There are a lot of programs for single women and kids but I found out that as a man I didn't qualify......silly right?

Really?! I mean seriously?! This person is worried about their child who is in proximity to a dangerous situation that they can't get the child out of and you choose NOW to get digs in about how they should not have left their child there at all. I would have given a lot for a reputable program where I could have taken my daughter to socialize with other children when she was that age and I would have been grateful for a break for an hour or two.

Oh, and tag in some whining about not enough programs for single dads at the end to boot. Not the place for it. What the hell is wrong with you?!

Rant over.

To Vasa, I'm sure everything will turn out fine. As another poster said, we rag on the police a lot on ATS but no one wants to see a child hurt and it does sound like they have the situation well in hand. Thoughts are with you.

I wouldn't worry now because the police are there, they must have it under control for now.

I would worry about the other days if they don't catch the person.

Way to make the OP feel "better". Why would you make them feel like they are a bad parent along with being afraid out of their minds? Having your children in your back pocket 24 hrs a day does NOT make you parent of the year. Spending time away from your child every now and then is healthy for both parent and child. It teaches the child socialazation.a reply to: mwood

You're lucky to get a call. My kids' school was on lockdown for an armed suspect 2 years ago and I didn't find out until they got home from school (they ended the lockdown before the end of the school day). I never received a call from the school until later that evening.

Turns out the guy wasn't even in the same neighborhood as the school and ended up being found several miles away. And he was just some run-of-the-mill idiot. I doubt he was ever even thinking about any school, he was just running from the cops for whatever stupid thing he did.

Most likely an overreaction in your case and the one at my kids' school but better an overreaction than under.

a reply to: redhorse

He never voiced any opinion about what vasa chooses to do. He asked what hey where and He said he couldn't imagine leaving his 18 month old anywhere and I comepletely agree.... Accept for the Montessori programs. If you are a parent that absolutely needs time for work or whatever then these programs are great. Id bet if mwood got a chance to check out some of the programs (which are very understanding to single men) he might dig it. My aunt works at one in Florida and turned me on to the whole thing when I was having kids.

I'd bet negative press is at an absolute minimum for these Montessori programs compared to daycare services.

And my thoughts and prayers go out for you and yours vasa. Remember our cops are geared out better then some infantry units are lol. I highly doubt one guy stands even a slim chance of doing even any harm. Before his gun can even fire you better believe someone will get a rifle round on target. Specially if kids are involved.

This dude even farts aggressively he's gonna get his head blown off lol!

originally posted by: lokin
Way to make the OP feel "better". Why would you make them feel like they are a bad parent along with being afraid out of their minds? Having your children in your back pocket 24 hrs a day does NOT make you parent of the year. Spending time away from your child every now and then is healthy for both parent and child. It teaches the child socialazation.a reply to: mwood

No disrespect to you or vasa, but while he's "afraid out of their minds" he's had time to come to ats and create a thread! Therefore I dont think vasa is quite as bothered as you seem to think.
I'm certain if there was any real danger to his child he would not have been on ats!

As for your claim that spending time away from your children teaches them socialisation, thats complete bunkem spread by the anti-homeschool crowd.

I'm sorry, but is your declaration of my comment being "complete bunkem" backed up by any facts? The socialazation comes from being around other children, not by the act of not being with the parent. I am sure you understood that and chose to purposely misunderstand.
reply to: VoidHawk