MACON, Ga. — UPDATE, 7:15 p.m.:
Investigators have captured the suspect after an hours-long search.
According to Bibb County Sheriff David Davis, the suspect went back to the house where he had previously tried to hide. The homeowner there was able to capture the suspect, allowing investigators to make the arrest.
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UPDATE, 6:45 p.m.
According to Bibb County Sheriff David Davis, as of 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, the search for the suspect is still underway. Davis says the man went to a nearby home and asked the homeowner to let him hide there. The homeowner refused, which started an argument between the two. The homeowner shot at the suspect's feet, causing him to drop the rifle that he had been carrying during his escape from police. The suspect ran away from the scene. No one was hurt.
Davis says that they don't think the suspect is currently armed, but they cannot confirm it.
The sheriff's office and GBI are current still searching for the man.
Stephanie Hartley with the Bibb County School District says students at Westside High School will do asynchronous learning Thursday and Friday.
This comes after a man was seen on campus with a gun in his car Wednesday, forcing the school to go into lockdown and police to give chase. Hartley says the decision was made due to "the social emotional impact" of the situation.
The change only applies to Westside High staff and students. Students and staff should log in for class virtually. Hutchings CGTC students will still need to participate in classes in person to follow CGTC’s schedule.
Shuttle service for CGTC will run as normal. As an additional support, counseling services will be available to students via Teams on Thursday and Friday.
Hartley says more information about these services and the next two days will be shared by school administrators.
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Students and staff at Westside High School are safe after a man was seen on campus with a gun in his car, forcing the school to go into lockdown Wednesday afternoon.
According to Stephanie Hartley with the Bibb County School District, a campus police officer was monitoring the carpool line when he noticed a gun in one of the cars in the line. When the officer approached the vehicle, a man jumped out of the car with the gun and ran into the woods. Students who were in the process of dismissal were brought back into the building as police chased the man.
The GBI also arrived on scene to help.
Hartley says there was no active shooter at the school and everyone is safe, and buses were already loaded at the time and left the school as soon as officers gave the OK.
Nearby Weaver Middle School also went into precautionary lockdown as an additional safety measure while officers were searching.
Hartley also calls the situation "an isolated incident unrelated to school business or any rumors that may have been spread prior."