A deputy did not point a shotgun toward a group of people allegedly fighting at Southwind High School, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is emphasizing.
On May 3, the school’s principal, Christopher Hardiman, reportedly sent out a robocall message stating that allegation as a fact, and the SCSO vehemently disputed this claim the next day.
SCSO dispatch shows the deputy responded to a call at the school at 2:06 p.m. An internal view of video footage indicates the deputy arrived on the scene, exited his vehicle with the weapon, holding it straight up in the air.
The SCSO press release noted, “At no time did he point the weapon at anyone – not when approaching the group of students, nor while dispersing them, or while walking back to his patrol vehicle.”
The deputy was also being particularly careful in dispersing the group because there had been a previous report of an armed person across the street from the school the previous day, May 2, the press release stated.
Concluding its response to the incident, the SCSO said, “Regrettably, Principal Hardiman sent out this robocall message without any clarification with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, this communicating erroneous information. Our deputies dedicate their lives to serving and protecting the public. They do so bravely and without pause to create a safer community for all.”
