Police: Holy Innocents' coach bought gun, school locked down

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - A coach at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School went to buy a gun after being placed on leave from his position for sending inappropriate messages to former students, according to Sandy Springs Police.

Police said the school locked itself down, and officers surrounded the school out of fears the coach would return to the school, but now believe he did not intend to harm students or staff.

Authorities said Wednesday morning, the coach met with administrators after parents notified them about inappropriate texts and emails sent to former students. Officials from Holy Innocents tell FOX 5, the employee was placed on leave.

Following the meeting, the school hired a private detective to follow the coach, police said. The detective notified officers that the employee went to Bass Pro Shop and purchased a gun, and was headed back to Sandy Springs.

Police said they pulled over the coach out of concerns of the man's intent, and said the man was loading the gun at the time of his arrest and would not comply with officers' initial orders to drop his weapon.

“When our employees made contact with the subject, they reported he was loading the firearm,” said Captain Mike Lindstrom, who said the coach was pulled over at the corner of Roswell Road and Abernathy.

The coach has been charged with reckless conduct and obstruction related to the incident.

Wednesday afternoon, police said they don't believe the suspect intended to use the gun at the school. He has been transported to a hospital for evaluation, police said.

Police also said they would not investigate the electronic messages sent to students, as the inappropriate messages had no illegal content.

Police are still investigating the coach's motive for buying a weapon.

In a statement to FOX 5 News, the school said the threat was made by a former employee who was never on campus.

The school said Holy Innocents’ took every precaution and the threat was contained.

The school was briefly placed on lockdown late Wednesday morning before classes were canceled for the remainder of the day.

SKYFOX 5 flew over the scene Wednesday morning. The school is located on Mount Vernon Highway.