DeKalb County

Night custodian found dead inside MLK High School

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A custodian at a high school in DeKalb County was found dead inside the school Thursday morning.

The discovery was made around 5 a.m. Thursday at Martin Luther King Jr., High School. Authorities confirmed to Channel 2's Audrey Washington the man, identified as 52-year-old Anthony Jacobs, was of a night custodian.

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They said that no foul play is suspected. They told Washington that Jacobs had been sick for some time, and appeared to have collapsed at the school and died.

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"He's a night employee and he was performing his duties and we were able to see through the video cameras, that he collapsed and, as a result, did die,” said DeKalb County Schools police Chief Donald Smith.

DeKalb County law enforcement officials initially said they were treating the area as a crime scene.

"I know this man. He gave me a dollar one time for my birthday and he was just so nice," said student Kaela Robinson.

A parent who knew Jacobs says he was dedicated to his job.

“He was a nice guy. He helped the kids. He did his job, real dedicated,” Angelena Jackson said.

Ninth and 10th grade students were relocated to Arabia Mountain High School (6610 Browns Mill Road, Lithonia) and 11th and 12th grade students were relocated to Southwest DeKalb High School (2683 Kelley Chapel Road, Decatur).

“As a part of our protocol, whenever we have this type of situation, we have grief counselors available,” superintendent Triscilla Weaver said. 

There were buses at MLK to take students to their assigned schools. Parents were also allowed to take students to their respective schools. Regular dismissal schedule was in effect Thursday afternoon.