Two Vidalia City School focused on potential security issues in the last two days and worked together with law enforcement to ensure the safety of students and staff.

On Wednesday, around 7:22 Sgt. Jason McCoy of the Toombs County Sheriff’s office received a call from the Vidalia City Schools Administration that a black male was wearing a white tank top, shorts, and a fanny pack, and was standing at the edge of school property at J.D. Dickerson Primary School. He was carrying what was believed to be a long gun in the proximity of school staff parking lot and where the school bus drop-off line for students is located. School staff were instructed to hold the children on the bus until law enforcement arrived.

The first deputy on the scene began searching for the man who has been identified as Ravon Jackson, age 59, of Vidalia. Within five minutes of the phone call, Jackson was located one block from the school. Over the next six minutes, four more deputies arrived, and it was immediately evident the gun Jackson was holding was a BB gun. Jackson told deputies that he resides at Ramonia Apartments and was walking to a family member’s house to return the BB gun. He said he and his cousin had previously been hunting squirrels with the gun.

Law enforcement advised him of the safety concerns he had created by being directly beside the school property and in the school zone with an item that resembled a firearm. He was then released.

Thursday morning, Vidalia High school was in a soft lockdown util authorities and school personnel assessed another possible threat. Dr. Sandy Reid, Superintendent of Schools, issued a statement to this radio station just after 9:00 a.m. saying a text message had been received from outside of school to a student, and out of an abundance of caution, school personnel again notified law enforcement who responded to the campus. Dr. Reid said that there was no indication of danger to students, but that law enforcement was performing a thorough investigation.