UPDATE: Two of three suspects found intruding at Winder-Barrow High School and Jackson County High School Thursday are now in custody.
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum says Christian Lebron Williams, age 20 of Norcross and Lamonte Dianell Smith, age 21 of Lawrenceville, were arrested by the Gwinnett County Sherriff's Office on Friday afternoon, one day after being seen in the two high schools.
Both men are being held in the Gwinnett County Jail and are expected to be extradited into Barrow County where they are facing charges.
The search continues for the third suspect, Jaywan T. Edwards, age 19 of Columbus. He was also seen inside Winder-Barrow High School on the morning of August 3.
Original story:
Two men were found Thursday morning inside Jackson County High School during the first day of school for that school system. Later that morning, those two men were joined by a third when they allegedly intruded at Winder-Barrow High School.
The men who intruded at Winder-Barrow High School Thursday morning were identified Friday afternoon by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office as Lamonte Dianell Smith, 21, of Lawrenceville, Jaywan T. Edwards, 19, of Columbus and Christian Lebron Williams, 20, of Norcross. Christian Williams and Lamonte Smith were the men trespassing at Jackson County High School.
All three were charged by the Barrow County Sheriff's Office with obstruction, criminal trespass, disruption of public schools and loitering in a school safety zone. The men have not been arrested as of early Friday afternoon.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has taken out warrants on Christian Williams and Lamonte Smith both men have Gwinnett County addresses. Both men have been charged with disruption of public school and loitering on school property by the Jackson County Sherriff's Office.
“The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office has been working tirelessly since yesterday morning to identify the three individuals who illegally entered Winder-Barrow High School,” Sheriff Jud Smith said. “We are proud to report that all three have been positively identified and are currently facing several criminal charges stemming from the incident. We are now working closely with other area law enforcement agencies to apprehend these individuals."
Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said the two intruders in their case were located inside Jackson County High School Thursday morning by school staff.
The agency said the two men left the building and returned to a vehicle parked on campus after they were spotted by school staff.
Later that morning, the two men who intruded on Jackson County High School entered Winder-Barrow High School. A third man joined them in that incident.
Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said their incident started at about 10:00 a.m. when a student alerted a school resource officer that three men that he did not believe were students were walking the hallways. The officer later saw the three people in the gym and asked them for their names.
The three men reportedly gave false information, and while the officer was trying to verify it, they fled.
"They took off running from the school, exited the school from the back, got into a vehicle they had parked on campus and drove off," Smith said.
Smith said the high school and nearby Russell Middle School and Winder Elementary School all went under what he called "soft lockdown" to make sure the area was safe. He said the investigation so far has indicated there was no danger to students or staff at any of the schools.
"There was no violence towards anyone, towards any student or staff or SRO, other than running when they got caught," Smith said. "No weapon was ever shown and no weapon was ever alleged to have been on the campus."
Smith said they entered the building with the help of a student at the school.
"How they entered the school was during class change, they walked in with another student. The juvenile student did know them," Smith said.
Overall, Smith said he was pleased with the response of both the sheriff's office and school system during the incident.
"We had well over 20 to 25 law enforcement officers surround the building within three minutes of the call coming out from the SRO," Smith said. "I'm extremely happy with the response and the school system is happy with what we did."
Winder Police also responded to the scene and Winder Police Chief Jim Fullington issued a statement about the matter on the sheriff's office's Facebook page. The Barrow County School System also issued a statement regarding the incident.
"All students and staff are safe. Normal school classes and activities resumed shortly after the incident," the statement said.
Sherrif Mangum said Christian Williams and Lamonte Smith are in the custody of the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office. They will be held in the Gwinnett County jail until picked up by Barrow County authorities.
Authorities said Jaywan Edwards is still at large.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/8/1197469/winder-barrow-high-school-goes-under-lockdown-after-intruders-found-in-gym-1