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School Put On Lockdown After Parent Said He Had Gun Save Email Print
Posted: 3:06 PM Sep 5, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:54 PM Sep 5, 2008
 Reporter: Bill Wilson
32 comments
A | A | A

A charge of possession of a firearm on school property was dropped today after a Pitt County magistrate found no probable cause to issue the warrant.

Police say it all started when a parent forced the lockdown of a Pitt County school this afternoon after indicating he has a gun.

Greenville police originally charged James Perkins with possession of a firearm on school property. But spokesman Cpl. Kip Gaskins says that charge was dropped late this afternoon.

It happened at Eastern Elementary School when police say the 73-year-old Perkins came to speak with a member of the school administration. During the discussion, police say Perkins mentioned he had a gun in his vehicle.

The school was placed on lockdown while police were alerted. Officers say they found a .25 semi-automatic handgun in his vehicle which was in the school's parking lot.

Gaskins says it's likely police will have to return the firearm to Perkins.
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Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 08:57 AM
To "it will be televised", one more thing. You said that Vicky and myself must be 90? I think it was quite a few more than 90 years ago since slavery days.Just admit that you are a little prejudiced. You dont have to be a certain color to be prejudiced.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 8, 2008 at 07:31 AM
To "it will be televised" that's just what it was, a typo. At least I wasn't trying to dredge up ghosts from the past 150 years. It's people like you who will insure that there is never peace and harmony between the races.You dont want equality, you want to be on top.
Posted by: all the time.... on Sep 8, 2008 at 12:24 AM
To: It will be Televised, how and why did this get turned into a racial issue? I have bi-racial kids but all I have ever taught them is that their race is: HUMAN!! It is people like you that are making it almost impossible to move on. You were never a slave and I never owned a slave! Stop trying to blame people for something that they had nothing to do with and can't be changed. The man had a gun on school property. It might not have been handled like we all would have liked but luckily no children where harmed, charges were dropped and hopefully everyone learned something from the whole episode.
Posted by: ~It will be Televised~ on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:20 PM
oh ??? I love the way you tried to tell me how to spell sir even though I was spelling it the way slaves use to say it. But before you correct me, how about you learn to spell commits because its not coomits. Isn't it terrible when you try to embarrass someone on their post about their spelling, and in the same post you have a typo. :) Oh karma she's a real B.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 7, 2008 at 09:41 PM
To "it will be televised" A lot is two words, but it could just have been a missed stroke of the space bar. However, sir is spelled SIR, not SAH. This could not have been a mistake, so who is showing his ignorance now?
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 7, 2008 at 09:08 PM
To "it will be televised", just for the record, I am 48.Also, I think what Vicky is referring to is that in the old days there was much less crime. You seem to want to make a race issue out of it. Look at the statistics of who coomits the most crimes.So if the shoe fits, wear it.
Posted by: WITN liker Location: eastern nc on Sep 7, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Wow, you guys sure are quick to post things today! Good job!
Posted by: To the Other Side Location: NC on Sep 7, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Who or where in this article does is say the gun was loaded? I've read the article again, but can't find where it says that the gun was loaded.
Posted by: Eastern NC'er Location: NC on Sep 7, 2008 at 12:24 PM
To "It will be Televised" Just so you know...'your' means belonging to, while 'you're' means you are. I think you meant 'you're' in your response. Don't feel bad 'a lot' of people make that mistake;)
Posted by: Cat Location: Gboro on Sep 7, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Amen John! ( Is amen one word or 2?) LOL! I do that ALOT! How DID this get turned into a race issue???
Posted by: John Location: Greenville on Sep 7, 2008 at 09:11 AM
It will be Televised: Why do people like you always have to turn a topic any topic into a race issue?? I'm so sick of that around here (Eastern NC). Get over it! It's 2008 for crying out loud!
Posted by: ~It will be Televised~ on Sep 6, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Vickie Location: Home I'm not sure what your implying by Get back to the good old days and watch alot of riff-raff come to a HALT. But times have changed unless you've been under a rock. You good old days are just that-old days. Be careful what you wish for. I love when people think that yes sah - no sah days are still here, not this day, not these kids.LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL You and ??? must be 90 years old. P.S. I'll be glad when someone tells you white people that a-lot is two words not one. Didn't you learn that in 3rd grade? Hope your not thin-skinned.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 6, 2008 at 09:08 PM
It is against the law to carry a gun on school property. No matter where it is. This law was made for a reason. I hunt and also have a concealed weapon permit. But do not go to the school or any other state property without removing my guns from my vehicle. This law is to protect our children. Charges should not have been dropped. You are not just going to say; Oh yeah, I have a gun in the car. What kind of example is this judge sitting for the children, is he going to drop the charges when one of them wants to go hunting in the afternoon and puts his gun behind the seat. I doubt it very seriously, he will be suspended and charged with bringing a gun on state property. What would happen if I FORGOT to leave my gun in the car and walked in the Pitt Co courthouse. The law is the law.
Posted by: the other side Location: Greenville on Sep 6, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Maybe instead of complaining about how the school was overcautious, maybe we should be PRAISING them for taking such good care of our children. Let's turn our rage, instead, on the parent who had a loaded weapon on campus and the magistrate who dropped the charges when having a weapon on a school campus is a felony! School employees are paid very little but we are expected to protect and educate the future generation ... meanwhile parents bring weapons to school and the legal system doesn't back us up. When this man (or any other disgruntled parent) shows up at school someday to get revenge, who will be to blame? Think about it, people. Cut out the drama and fix the real problem.
Posted by: James Madison Location: Virginia on Sep 6, 2008 at 04:16 PM
The 2nd Amendment makes no exception for school property. He has a right to have a weapon in his vehicle whether or not it is parked on school property. Read the Constitution.
Posted by: JR Location: Atlanta,GA on Sep 6, 2008 at 04:07 PM
All the comments made is one-sided...First the news and office person stated that he said a gun was in his car...that the office person words..not the man.We were not in the office. We are so quick to judge.I think he should not be in jail,because he did no wrong....this is just hear say...all the people who want him in jail should get a LIFE.
Posted by: TC Location: Greenville on Sep 6, 2008 at 03:37 PM
I am an Eastern Elementary parent. My child told me that they went into lockdown, described what happened, and was aware there was a lockdown. So she was aware there was one. Also, I am not sure if this man was threatening them or if he remembered it was in his car once he got there and mentioned it to them. I think it is wrong to have a gun on campus and they have to follow protocol by calling the police. But I do realize that this man may have been accidentally forgot that it was in his car and wanted to make the school officials aware of this. Either way the school and news need to be more clear on the intentions of this man. It would be helpful.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 6, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Right on Vicky!
Posted by: Vickie Location: Home on Sep 6, 2008 at 11:58 AM
When I was a student,kids had gun racks in trucks ALL the time.Now a kid can get in trouble for having a finger nail file.A certain group/crowd of people have become so thin skinned that all they can do is whine about being Politically Correct.Get back to the good old days and watch alot of riff-raff come to a HALT.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 6, 2008 at 11:29 AM
If student safety were really the issue, why dont all schools have a fence around it, a guard at the gate,and dont allow anyone to enter except faculty and students and let them pass through a metal detector. If a parent needs to pick up a child,let them be picked up at the gate.If a parent needs to see the principal, let them make an appointment, and go through the metal detector before entering the campus. This would make for a safer school.As it is now, there is really no security to keep someone off the campus until it is too late.By the time law enforcement can respond, they can alresdy do damage. Also, the guard at the gate should be armed.Also, all vehicles should be parked outside of the fence, except for those making deliveries to the school.
Posted by: eog Location: greenville on Sep 6, 2008 at 11:11 AM
i agree the staff at that schools front office is ignorant.While my dealings with them were short I was frustrated more with the lack of urgency.You get what you pay for is the bottom line.When you treat them just a little better than a min wage employee or your sarcastic back to them they tend to straighten up.
Posted by: Eastern NC'er Location: NC on Sep 6, 2008 at 08:34 AM
Hunters/farmers carry guns. Was this just left in his vehicle because he's a hunter? Then if it was, I can understand why he was let go. It sounds like the man made an honest mistake, he admitted "oops, I left my gun in my vehicle." It's getting to a point where anyone can get arrested for breathing wrong, if just the right person over-reacts. I'm sure the police looked at all the factors and sounds like they did their job. If the students didn't know they were under lock-down, then apparently the teachers did a really great job of handling the situation by going on with their routine under lock-down, so as not to upset any children. Why should the students be stressed out and upset about this? Sounds like everyone did a professional job and things were taken care of. Some people just love drama!!!
Posted by: Marciea Location: Greenville on Sep 5, 2008 at 10:21 PM
I am very outraged at the fact that they let this man go. Why would he even come on school grounds with a gun in his car in the first place. My child goes to Eastern and anyone who has children there knows that the front office staff sucks and could do a better job with how they deal with the front office and parents but when I have a problem with them I wouldnt resort to bringing a gun b/c of all the innocent children there. I want all the parents to demand some answers b/c I am no longer confident in my childs safety there anymore. He should be in JAIL.
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 5, 2008 at 09:53 PM
To a students aunt, I wasnt making it about race. I was saying that if it is wrong to "profile" one group of people, then why is it okay to "profile " another group of people who are mostly law abiding citizens.(Gun Owners).
Posted by: Chris Location: Greenville on Sep 5, 2008 at 09:42 PM
I would like for the parents that got letters from eastern today, to demand what the H*LL the judge down at the PDC was thinking letting this man go on this kinda of charge. Will this man just come back some other day a hurt or kill my child or yours? We cannot just let this be swept under the carpet, parents!!!! Everyone should know the whole story and something else needs to be done with this man and the magistrate who let him go.
Posted by: Chris Location: Greenville on Sep 5, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Bottom line class Man with gun School grounds = Jail. If it had been me I would have be burried under PDC.
Posted by: Zack Location: Greenville on Sep 5, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Bottom line is it's against the LAW to have a firearm on school property. So why was there no probable cause found after a firearm was found in the school parking lot?? The man said he had a gun and it was found in his vehicle that was parked on school property. So why was he not charged? That is the REAL concern here. Thanks to the Greenville Police this situation could have had a very bad outcome.
Posted by: JB Location: NC on Sep 5, 2008 at 05:52 PM
well there two side to every story,true they gave the gunman side and felt the need to call the police, but why didn't someone talk to him in the administration office, they all was bussy! doing what. a concern person come in to talk to someone in the office and as a result they call the police what went wrong or what was said for this man to mention his gun.
Posted by: a student's aunt Location: nc on Sep 5, 2008 at 05:47 PM
This school may say it was put into a lockdown, but no child I talked to said they were...that is something you should look into WITN! thats potentially very dangerous! Also to ??? where do you see that this story has anything to do with race??? its about the safety of our children, those charges should not have been dropped, he openly disclosed he had a weapon in his car...there is probable cause to search the vehicle. please stop bring the race card into a discussion that has nothing to do with race. That man should have known better than bring a run on school grounds. we are 2 weeks into the school year...and parents now have to teach their five year olds about school shootings, this should not happen!
Posted by: Roy Rogers Location: Out West on Sep 5, 2008 at 05:08 PM
This guy was probably conversing with the administrator about how much the school environment had changed and said, "When I was a boy, we took guns to school all the time--and nobody got hurt. Shoot, I've got a gun in my truck right now--I wouldn't hurt anyone with it." Of course, the only words the administrator would hear are "GUN-SHOOT-HURT" as he ran to push the panic button. What a shame to think that if you have a firearm on school property you're made to be a felon and considered a threat. Ridiculous. All of that does nothing to stop the nuts who do the killings ... what it does do is make criminals out of law-abiding citizens. CRAZY!
Posted by: ??? Location: NC on Sep 5, 2008 at 03:54 PM
Im sure this obviously senile individual felt that he had nothing to fear. After all everyone knows that schools are gun free zones. No one is allowed to defend thier self.Do you know what happens when a wolf decides to attack a sheep herd with no sheepherder there to protect them.He pretty much does as he da#* well pleases. It is such people as this that do give legitimate law abiding citizens a bad image, because some people prefer to "Profile" gun owners. They think if some are bad, then all must be bad.If it is wrong to racially profile a group of people, then it is wrong to profile the other group just the same.
Posted by: AP Location: NC on Sep 5, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Did he metion he had a gun in a threatening way, or was it more of 'I carry my gun everywhere I go' kind of thing?
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