By Joe Johnson
Three Barrow County Schools went on lockdown as a precaution Thursday morning after three intruders were confronted by law enforcement in Winder-Barrow High School’s gymnasium.
Barrow County Dispatch at 10:01 a.m. was notified by the high school's resource officer that three males were running from him after he attempted to identify them. The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and Winder Police Department responded to the high school, located at 272 N. 5th Avenue in Winder, and immediately surrounded the school in an attempt to locate the three intruders. As a precautionary measure, Winder-Barrow High School was locked down, as were both Russell Middle School and Winder Elementary School, which are located nearby.
Thorough searches of the high school itself, parking lots, and adjacent streets were conducted by law enforcement and the scene was deemed secure and lockdown status was lifted less than an hour later. Subsequent review of school video camera footage revealed that the intruders exited the school and fled in a black car.
The investigation into this case is continuing as law enforcement works to confirm the identities of these three individuals. If anyone has any information regarding this case, they may contact the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit at (770) 307-3080 ext. 3083.