School Bookkeeper Possibly Saved Many Lives

A bookkeeper in the front office at a Georgia elementary school is being credited with protecting hundreds of people from harm as she kept her cool and talked down an armed gunman. The man said he had planned to kill police and expected his life to end that day.

Police said Wednesday that Antoinette Tuff was heroic in how she responded after being taken hostage a day earlier by Michael Brandon Hill, a 20-year-old man with a history of mental health issues. Hill went to the school armed with an AK 47-style rifle and nearly 500 rounds of ammunition, police said. On a recording of a 911 call released Wednesday, Tuff can be heard relaying messages from Hill to DeKalb County emergency dispatchers before convincing him to surrender. She tells the dispatcher that Hill said he wasn't there to hurt the children but wanted to talk to an unarmed officer.

"We're not gonna hate you, baby. It's a good thing that you're giving up," Tuff says after having Hill put his weapons and ammunition on the counter. Tuff tells Hill she loves him and will pray for him.

She spoke with the man for nearly an hour before he surrendered. A real feel-good story. Thank you, Mrs. Tuff!

Posted by Note Taker