Students run away from homecoming dance while saying ‘gun,’ Paulding County deputies investigating

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities are investigating an incident at a middle school dance.

Paulding County Sheriff officials said Saturday night, deputies were working the East Paulding Middle School homecoming dance held at East Paulding High School.

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At one point during the dance, officials said students began to run away from the building while saying “gun.”

Deputies on the scene called for backup and began trying to figure out what was going on.

“As of now, deputies have not located anyone with a gun, anyone injured as a result of a weapon or anyone that saw a person with a gun,” officials said.

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Sheriff’s office officials said that at this point in the investigation, allegations of someone with a gun are “unsubstantiated.”

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding a gun being at the dance is asked to contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office at 770-445-2117.

East Paulding Junior Raiders Football issued the following statement:

“A note to our football and EPHS Junior Raider Cheerleading family.

I may say more later but, hope you all understand how sad I am that our fun event ended up the way it did. I’m so sorry for the kids who were truly scared in that situation and it hits home that we just don’t live in the same world as when we were teens.  You guys trust us with your kids 4 nights a week and I and all the coaches, and mommas on the TD club take the kids safety in practice, the game,  and extracurricular activities very seriously. And I thank you for that trust.

We did have balloons in the lobby, but that is not what popped.  Someone brought red balloons and apparently blew them up and popped them causing panic.

I know though that the fear that many felt were real and hate that someone’s prank ended what should have been a fun celebration.

I’ll leave on this note... thank you again for your trust you put in us. I hope you still have that trust.

I will say, the coaches &  parents present and PCSO on duty at the dance, and those additional ones responding handle the chaos very well and I’m proud of everyone who helped.

Again, in sorry kids had to have any kind of fear on what should have been a wonderful evening.

If anyone has any additional questions or concerns, please reach out to me and I will help as much as I can.”

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