Reports of an armed robbery in Gray prompted the lockdown of three county schools Monday morning, and authorities were still looking for the robber.
A 911 dispatcher confirmed the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was called to an armed robbery at Subway, 5049, Suite 102, Bobby Hicks Highway, about 10:40 a.m. Monday.
According to a sheriff’s office news release, a man went in the restaurant, brandished a weapon while demanding money. An undetermined amount of money was taken.
Daniel Boone High School, Gray Elementary School and Ridgeview Elementary School were placed on lock down shortly after the robbery report.
Director of Schools Ron Dykes said no school was in immediate danger and the lockdown was enacted per protocol.
“It was just precautionary,” Dykes said.
Dykes said the sheriff’s office notified the school system of the robbery around 11 a.m. and suggested the lockdown be put in place.
“They expected the robber to be armed and on foot at that time,” Dykes said.
The lockdown was lifted around 11:20 a.m.
Dykes said school resource officers were in at least two schools, and that the lockdown was enacted successfully.
“All went smoothly as our process is intended to work,” Dykes said. “It was effective today.”
Dykes said media and the community were notified of the lockdown via a mass text message and emails. The situation was also reported and updated on the school system’s website.
The robber was described as a white male around six feet tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds. He was wearing a brown Carhart-style jacket with a hood, a blue baseball cap with a “B” on it and wire rim glasses. He had a reddish goatee beard.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 423-788-1414.
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Below is an earlier post about the lockdown and robbery:
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Two county schools were locked down after an armed robbery in Gray this morning.
A 911 dispatcher confirmed the Washington County Sheriff's Office was called to an armed robbery at Subway on Bobby Hicks Highway about 10:40 this morning.
Daniel Boone High School and Ridgeview Elementary School were placed on lock down until further notice.
No immediate threat to either school was reported.
Emergency radio traffic indicated the lock down status was removed just after 11:20 a.m.
Keep checking JohnsonCityPress.com for more information.
oldgal47 writes:
January 14, 2013
11:26 AM
Gray Elementary School is closer to Subway than either one of the schools that were locked down. Why was Gray not on lockdown as well?
larnold5 writes:
January 14, 2013
11:33 AM
Gray Elementary was on lockdown as well. This article just doesn't mention it for some reason.
jholbrook writes:
January 14, 2013
12:57 PM
this is beyond silly, what is the left going to start doing next? locking down schools when there is a gun within 63458726345 miles? people need to calm down, gun violence isn't any worse than it has been ever and is overall still far far below what it's been in decades. many times more people are murdered by planned parenthood every year than are killed by guns in 10 years.
winelover writes:
January 14, 2013
1:12 PM
Ask the parents in Newtown, Conn., whether gun violence is something to calm down about.
commonsensical writes:
January 14, 2013
1:31 PM
And what if the armed robber had entered one of those three schools for cover and taken innocent hostages? Would the lockdown still have been "beyond silly"? The lockdown is a safety precaution to try to prevent tragedies such as Newtown.
commonsensical writes:
January 14, 2013
2:09 PM
They already have locked doors and an intercom on the front door. A visitor pages the office and states their business in order to be let in. This fails when other methods of entry are used such as breaking a window.
Concerning this article, we do not know yet if drugs were involved but we do know that the suspect was armed. I'm glad school administration and law enforcement have enough sense to take extra security measures to protect students and staff.
dallasman writes:
January 14, 2013
2:16 PM
Wow, not quite sure how to follow that rant. This is to jholbrook... It was a " precautionary " measure. How would you have felt if one of your children had been in one of these schools and the intruder came in and held your child hostage. I'm sure it would not have been a " silly " situation. Ask the people in Newtown if more precautionary measures would have helped.
dallasman writes:
January 14, 2013
2:19 PM
commonsensical..... The " rant " statement was not meant for your post, but the one that was before mine before they took it down.
TNPeaches78 writes:
January 14, 2013
3:15 PM
To oldgal47...Gray was on lockdown. It states it in the article above, "
Daniel Boone High School, Gray Elementary School and Ridgeview Elementary School were placed on lock down until further notice about 20 minutes later. "
To jholbrook... your comment, "people need to calm down, gun violence isn't any worse than it has been ever and is overall still far far below what it's been in decades." is ridiculous...obivously when 20 innocent (angels) children (and 6 school staff) are malciously murdered there is every reason for people to be concerned and worried. The school shootings are getting worse and more frequent. On December 14, 2012, I had to painfully watch my young child cry uncontrollably and ask me, full of fear, "mommy, what if that happens here?". At that point, we talked about what she should do in this type of situation. I'm not going to lie to my child and say that it will never happen here. Sandy Hook is all the proof that parents need to know that it CAN happen ANYWHERE.
justathought writes:
January 14, 2013
4:35 PM
oldgal47...nothing like having everyone tell you Gray Elementary was on lock-down, is there? You read the first version correctly. Gray Elementary wasn't mentioned. It was added after you posed the question.
rhon0311 writes:
January 14, 2013
11:02 PM
commonsensical writes:
January 14, 2013
2:09 PM
Suggest Removal
They already have locked doors and an intercom on the front door. A visitor pages the office and states their business in order to be let in.
All the schools should always follow this method prior to folks entering. I have seen the schools of Wash Co. just buzz me in because they knew who I was....what if I were having a really bad day? Everyone, that has no business at the schools...teachers and students...need to be buzzed in after stating their business!
Flip writes:
January 15, 2013
2:03 PM
As a parent, I am glad that the school system made this decision. I would rather be safe than sorry.
activecitizen writes:
January 19, 2013
11:12 AM
i agree Flip, i would much rather be safer the sorry.
activecitizen writes:
January 19, 2013
11:15 AM
jholbrook you're facts on that are incorrect sir.
provided.