Hall County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) arrested a Dacula man who prompted school officials to temporarily lockdown the exterior of Friendship Elementary School in Buford Thursday.
According to a press release issued by HCSO, Jhourdan Gibbs, 23, of Dacula was arrested by investigators at his residence in Dacula.
The incident unfolded around 8:45 a.m. when an unknown adult man, later identified as
Gibbs attempted to enter the front door of Friendship Elementary School.
According to HCSO, Gibbs first pulled on the door handle and then signaled for assistance via the outside intercom. He told a front office employee who answered the intercom he wanted to come inside to use the restroom. When the employee refused, Gibbs went to other exterior doors in an apparent attempt to enter the school building.
School employees immediately contacted law enforcement as the school was placed on an
external lockdown. Gibbs left the school property in his vehicle.
HCSO investigators were able to track Gibbs to his residence in Dacula with the assistance of camera footage from the school. After questioning him, investigators placed Gibbs under arrest.
He is charged with criminal trespass, loitering at a public school and disruption
of a public school, all misdemeanor offenses.
When the incident occurred Thursday morning, Principal Abigail Celli sent a message to parents informing them of the external lockdown.
According to the message, Celli told parents “At approximately 8:45 this morning, Friendship Elementary School went into an exterior lockdown because an unknown adult tried to enter the building.” She assured parents that all students were in their classrooms and were safe.
She told parents that law enforcement was contacted and were on campus at the time of her sending the message. Celli added that the individual had left the grounds and that officers verified that the scene was secured.
She praised students and faculty for doing an amazing job for quickly and calmly responding to the incident. “The safety of our Falcon family is always our number one priority,” Celli reassured parents.
Early Thursday afternoon, Hall County Schools Director of Communications and Athletics Stan Lewis confirmed the incident and said that the school was locked down for about 30 minutes.
As of Thursday afternoon, Gibbs remained in the Hall Detention Center.
