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Investigation uncovers new details in school gun case

SANDY SPRINGS — Channel 2 Action News has discovered new developments in a Fulton County school resource officer’s resignation over how she handled a student with a loaded gun.

Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik received documents and recordings of an internal investigation into the incident.

The documents showed the officer told different stories to different people.

"I resigned as a result of trying to keep my name before they were to slander it and say I didn't do my job."

Former Fulton County school resource officer Adelene Long said she didn’t want to take the fall for allowing an unarmed assistant principal to disarm a teen at Ridgeview Charter Middle School in Sandy Springs on Aug. 26.

Long said the assistant principal alerted her when he told her he was checking on a rumor.

["So, the assistant principal never said to you, ‘I'm hearing rumors of a weapon?’"] "No, he did not," Long said.

Long told Petchenik she felt something wasn't right and called her supervisor, and then followed the assistant principal out into the hallway. However, Fulton County school officials sent Channel 2 an audio recording of Long speaking to human resources about the incident, and it appears to contradict what she told us.

"Mr. Young, the sixth grade administrator, came to inform me that a student said that another student may possibly have a weapon, they're hearing they have a weapon on their person,” Long was recorded saying.

Young told human resources investigators he figured officer Long would go with him, but she didn’t.

Long was recorded telling employee relations she was going to stand by her post.

“The administrators are going to do the search and I'm going to stand by my post location, to assist if needed," Long said.

Petchenik obtained the HR report on Young Wednesday, it concluded he followed protocol and will not face discipline.

Long maintains she didn’t have all the information she needed to intervene and said she wishes she’d done more.

“I should have pried for more information before allowing him to proceed," Long said.