HAMLET — Gunfire led to one Richmond County School taking precautions for the second consecutive day.
Kylie McDonald, public information officer for Richmond County Schools, said that the district was notified around 11:15 a.m. Thursday of gunfire near the campus of Monroe Avenue Elementary.
McDonald said that the Hamlet Police Department was notified and the school sheltered in place for about 20 minutes while HPD officers and deputies with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office canvassed the area.
She added that the school was cleared and law enforcement “determined it was safe for us to resume normal activities.”
“Safety is always our number one priority, and we wanted to ensure all of our families were aware of the shelter in place due to the incident that occurred near our campus this morning,” McDonald said. “Principal Melanie Carnes informed families through the all-call system.”
While HPD did respond, Chief Dennis Brown said the RCSO is investigating the case as it occurred in Dobbins Heights.
The RO is awaiting information from the sheriff’s office.
The school was placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon after shots were fired two blocks away near the intersection of Monroe Avenue and Seaboard Street.
Brown said that no injuries were reported but a home and vehicle were damaged by bullets.
Police are seeking a vehicle of interest in that case.
Click here to read about that case.
