3 Suspects Who Triggered Lockdown At 3 Barrow Schools Identified

WINDER, GA — Three suspects who ran from Winder-Barrow High School and caused a lockdown at three Barrow County schools Thursday have been identified and are facing charges, authorities said Friday.

Authorities confirmed to Patch all suspects remained at large Friday.

Dr. J.B. Bowen is the assistant superintendent for support services at the Barrow County School System. He told Patch Thursday three people were recognized by school resource officers as not being students at the high school. Bowen said they were behaving suspiciously.

The SROs then tried to question the trio, but the three people ran from the building.

They were identified Friday 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.

The accused men were charged on suspicion of obstruction, criminal trespass, disruption of public schools and loitering in school safety zone, authorities said.

Out of precaution, the school system placed Winder-Barrow High on lockdown around 10:15 a.m. The lockdown was lifted around 11 a.m.

Bowen said Russell Middle School and Winder Elementary School were also placed on lockdown due to their proximity to the high school.

None of the schools were in danger at the time of the incident, and no weapons were found at the high school campus, Bowen told Patch.

“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,” Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said in a news release. “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."

The sheriff's office said Thursday the suspects fled the scene in a black car. Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the sheriff's office's Criminal Investigations Unit, (770) 307-3080, ext. 3083.