Update published 4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 24:
A student is now facing criminal charges after an incident that led to partial lockdowns at West Hall Middle and High schools Thursday morning.
A release from the Hall County Sheriff's Office said the incident started at around 9:00 a.m, when an assistant principal at West Hall High told a school resource officer that he had seen a suspicious person with a backpack on the roof of the school.
'While the assistant principal and the SRO were communicating on the phone, the person jumped from the roof and ran across the school's practice field to a wooded area," the sheriff's office said. "Both the school official and the SRO gave chase while the WHHS principal placed the school on lockdown to ensure everyone's safety."
The person was eventually caught and identified as a 15-year-old student of the high school. Sheriff's office investigators then went to the student's home and spoke with his mother, who reportedly told her son to turn himself in to authorities.
"The student was transported to Hall County Juvenile Court on misdemeanor charges of disruption of a school and criminal trespass," the sheriff's office said.
Hall County School District Communications Director Stan Lewis said while the incident was concerning, there was no safety threat to the schools.
"At no time were students or staff in danger," Lewis said in a statement Thursday afternoon. "We understand such incidents can be concerning, and we appreciate the swift, professional response by WHHS staff and our law enforcement partners. The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority."
Update published 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 24:
School officials now say West Hall Middle and High schools are back to normal operations after morning lockdowns.
Hall County School District officials said the two were placed on partial lockdowns after an unidentified person was seen on the high school's campus. Law enforcement responded, but school officials ultimately said there was no threat in the area.
"The suspicious individual who was on the campus of WHHS has been identified as a current high school student who was in an unauthorized area," Hall County Schools Communications Director Stan Lewis said. "He is no longer in the area. Law enforcement has given us the all clear, the lock down has been lifted, and we are resuming normal operations."
Original story published 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 24:
West Hall Middle and High schools have both been placed on lockdowns after school officials say an unknown individual was identified on the high school's campus.
Hall County School District officials did not release any additional details on the incident, but did say that law enforcement is on the scene and assessing the situation. West Hall High has been placed on interior lockdown, meaning students are not allowed to leave their classrooms. West Hall Middle is on an exterior lockdown, meaning students are not allowed to leave the building.
School officials said normal school operations would resume once the all clear is given from law enforcement.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/4/1290661/authorities-student-on-the-roof-led-to-lockdown-at-west-hall-middle-and-high-schools-thursday