South Fulton County

Shots ring out near school just hours after teacher carjacked in parking lot

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Parents are raising safety concerns after a teacher was carjacked early Monday morning from the school's parking lot and, just hours later, the school was put on lockdown after shots rang out nearby.

Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes was interviewing a parent about the carjacking at Heritage Elementary School in south Fulton County when they heard about 15 shots being fired off in an apartment complex near the school.

Fernandes said it happened just as the elementary school students were about to be dismissed for the day.

Just moments after the shots were fired, Fernandes said, a school police officer ran out of the school and told her the school was going on lockdown because of the shots.

Fernandes said she and her photographer followed the police sirens and found officers searching for a suspect in the Biscayne apartment complex behind the school.

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Police didn't find the shooter and they didn't find anyone injured, Fernandes said.

Fernandes said she went back to the school to learn more about the carjacking that had happened earlier in the day.

"This was a crime of opportunity," said Fulton County Schools safety director Shannon Flounnory.
Flounnory said the carjacker came to the school in a stolen car.

"I think he was looking for a way to ditch the previous car that was stolen to find another route to leave,"
Flounnory said.

Police said he spotted a female teacher around 6:15 a.m. and took her car at gunpoint.

"That could've been me coming in the morning. It's scary," parent Savion Thomas said.

"We're going to be changing work hours for officers to ensure that, from the time the first person comes into the building, that we have coverage, as well, in some of our high-needs areas," Flounnory said.

Police said they are still working to find the carjacker.