Posted on 03/12/2014 3:56:06 PM PDT by Gamecock
LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC Midway Elementary in Lexington is no longer on lockdown after deputies determined a man hunting squirrels on private property near the school posed no threat.
The Sheriffs Department asked administrators to place the school on lockdown as a precaution around 9:25 a.m., Lexington County Sheriffs Department Spokesman Maj. John Allard said.
A bus driver saw a man in the woods on private property near the school and reported that he was armed with a rifle or shotgun, Maj. Allard said.
Deputies determined the armed man seen in the woods was lawfully hunting squirrels with a shotgun on his private property and took no actions that posed a threat to anyone at the elementary school, Maj. Allard said.
Maj. Allard said the man shot and killed two squirrels.
The school was on lockdown for about three hours.
Prior to finding the man in question, Maj. Allard said deputies conducted directed patrols near the school as a precaution.
In addition, one deputy remained stationed at the school for the rest of the school day.
About 10:50 a.m., Principal Jan Fickling emailed parents about the lockdown.
There are no concerns here on campus, and normal activties are taking place except for those outside, Midway Elementary School Principal Jan Fickling said. We are under a perimeter lockdown only as requested by the Lexington County Sheriffs Department.
Principal Fickling sent a second email around 12:30 p.m. to let parents know the lockdown had been lifted.
Oh brother.
SC Ping?
I think this shows the new security protocols are working. The bus driver was correct in reporting the possible danger and the sherrif’s office correctly checked it out. The kids are worth it.
I hate what a shotgun does to squirrels.
Oops - sherrif = sheriff
Actually this was the correct response especially if the bus driver did not know who the man was or what he was doing.
It is far better to be safe than sorry in this case.
That said it is also a sad commentary of the state of society
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New!
Shotgun? You hunt squirrels with a .22.
Right?
Some do and some don't..........
A .22 is the classic squirrel gun.
This guy is lucky! I don’t know the law there but it is Illegal to discharge a firearm in the City Limits in my home town.
Many years ago, my Grandpa taught me to hunt squirrels with a .22. He told me to shoot them thru the head, although at 12, I was lucky to hit them at all, and yet he still skinned my gut shot victims...
You hunt squirrels with a small hav-a-heart trap and peanuts. Everybody knows that.
What made him really threatening was the looking-up-in-the-trees behavior. :-)
A shotgun is much safer, given the range of a 22. Shotgun for wisdom.
Why...?
Oh' to reassure the children after the school scared the crap out of them..
Wait a minute! The reporter, ANNE-KATHRYN FLANAGAN, did not report the weapon as an assault rifle??
shooting rifles up into the air is unsafe, especially around schools.
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