Teacher carjacked outside elementary school

SOUTH FULTON, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - Police raced to an elementary school after reports of a carjacking. It happened at Heritage Elementary in the City of South Fulton a little after 6 a.m. Monday.

Police said a teacher had just parked in front of the school when a masked gunman demanded the keys to her car. The teacher wasn’t hurt, but she lost her car. She told officers the carjacker jumped in her white 2015 Dodge Challenger and took off down Old National Highway.

Shortly after the carjacking, police found an abandoned Impala at a business across the street from the school. Investigators determined it had been reported stolen out of Atlanta, now they’re trying to figure out if it is connected to the carjacker.

"That shouldn't happen, especially early in the morning like that when kids are arriving at school, get off the bus and the teacher gets hijacked,” said Eric Baugh who lives near the school.

The principal of Heritage Elementary sent a letter to parents explaining what happened, urging everyone to be cautious and saying school police will now be staggering their shifts to make sure an officer is on duty during the early morning and into late in the evening.

“I used to drive a school bus for the school and I see the teachers and principal come in at all hours, some of the teachers do come in quite early,” said Miss Davy who is a former school bus driver.

The carjacking isn’t the only thing that made parents nervous.  Just as school was about to be dismissed there was a report of shots fired at a nearby apartment complex.  The school went on lockdown until the "all clear" was given.

"It’s really disturbing that we live in these times that people don't care,” said Maria Carter whose children used to go to the school.