Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith has emphasized the crucial role played by an armed School Resource Officer in stopping an attacker at Apalachee High School on Wednesday afternoon. During a joint press conference with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Sheriff Smith explained that the shooter was confronted by a school resource officer, who gave him the choice between surrendering and facing potential death.
As broadcast by FOX 35 Orlando, Sheriff Smith detailed how the situation unfolded: “Obviously the shooter was armed, and our School Resource Officer engaged him, and the shooter quickly realized that if he did not give up, that it would end with an officer involved shooting.” The attacker chose to surrender at this point, going down on the ground before being taken into custody by the deputy.
This incident holds ironic significance, as Vice President Kamala Harris had previously called for removing police officers from schools during her 2019 presidential campaign. In light of these events, the vital role that armed school resource officers play in keeping students and staff safe cannot be overstated.