Jesse Randall Davidson, 53, was arrested on Wednesday after firing several shots then barricading himself inside a classroom at a Georgia high school. In social media posts before his arrest, Davidson pushed for gun control and was opposed to arming teachers with guns.
The Dalton Police Department tweeted that police had responded to a call of “shot or shots” being fired at Dalton High School in Dalton, Ga. just after 11:15 a.m.
Police say the social studies teacher opened fire at the school on Wednesday after leaving a note last week threatening to harm himself and others.
No children were in danger during the incident, according to the DPD.
Students who followed Davidson online said he was for gun control and he opposed teachers bringing guns to school.
Some social media users also stated Davidson was trying to prove a point.
Davidson, a Democrat, began teaching in 2004 after leaving his job as a reporter at a local radio station. He said covering the 9/11 tragedy was a “turning point” in his career.
He was the longtime voice of the Dalton High School football games.
“I continued to do the broadcast work for Dalton High School part-time and also took other part-time jobs to help support my family,” he told the Dalton Schools Network. “I was married and had a child and it wasn’t easy. But it was worth it.”
No Georgia school district currently allows teachers to carry guns. But the Bleckley County school district in North Georgia is considering allowing teachers to pack weapons.
Bleckley County schools, located about 90 miles north of Atlanta, announced it was considering arming teachers after the Florida school shooting.
On Tuesday, Florida lawmakers voted to allow teachers to carry guns inside classrooms and other states already have laws in place permitting teachers to carry concealed weapons.
This post was updated with the teacher’s name.
