Hopewell Elementary lockdown: Suspect arrested, school tightens security

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School System is apologizing for an incident that Superintendent Dr. Stephen Gainey said created fear and anxiety among students, staff members and parents, and should have never happened.

The incident occurred on the morning of Feb 26, when according to information from the Randolph County School System (RCSS), Hopewell Elementary was placed on a modified lockdown by law enforcement at 9:11 a.m. after an unidentified individual entered the school through a door that could not be properly secured due to bent hinges.

As part of the modified lockdown, all exterior doors were secured, and student movement was restricted and supervised.

A widely shared eyewitness report on Facebook states that the individual who entered the building was escorted by two staff members to the office. When questioned about why he was in the school, the male reportedly replied that he was looking for his school records.

The school system says the assistant principal escorted the intruder out of the building and contacted a School Resource Officer (SRO) with the Sheriff’s Office by phone. 

At the time, no SRO was at the school. According to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, elementary schools in Randolph County typically do not have permanent SROs on-site. Instead, middle and high school SROs, along with patrol deputies, periodically check in on elementary campuses.

The lockdown was lifted at 9:58 a.m. after law enforcement determined the immediate threat had passed.

Following the incident, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office obtained photographs of the suspect from the school and searched the area, including local neighborhoods. Later in the day, deputies identified the suspect as 36-year-old Neal Allen McMann, who was wanted by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for a parole violation as an absconder out of Davidson County.

McMann had been released after serving approximately one year and eight months at the Piedmont Correctional Institution following a conviction in September 2022 for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to inflict serious injury, according to records from the NC Department of Adult Corrections. At some point after his release on parole in June 2024, McMann either failed to check in with an assigned parole officer in Davidson County or violated the terms of his parole and was labeled as an absconder.

Shortly after 11 p.m., deputies patrolling the area observed a man walking near Meadowbrook Drive matching the suspect’s description. The Sheriff’s Office stated that during a consensual encounter, the suspect denied being McMann. However, when deputies attempted to place him in handcuffs, he pulled away and began to resist.

After a brief struggle, McMann was detained. The Sheriff's Office says a search located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. McMann was taken to the Randolph County Detention Center, and booked on felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and misdemeanor resisting a public officer. 

Hopewell Elementary Principal Carla Miller assured parents in a morning phone message after the incident that the lockdown was a precautionary measure and that at no time were students or staff in danger. In a follow-up message to parents later that evening, Principal Miller confirmed that the faulty door had been repaired and announced that a full-time SRO would be stationed at Hopewell Elementary for the next several weeks. Additionally, school staff will conduct daily security checks to ensure all doors remain secure​.

This is Carla Miller, Principal at Hopewell Elementary school, calling as a follow-up to today's incident. I
wanted to make you aware that the door has been fixed that the intruder used to enter the building. As a result of today's
event, starting tomorrow, we will have a full-time SRO for the next couple weeks. In addition, doors will be checked every
morning and throughout the day. Thank you and have a great evening.
(Phone message sent to parents - February 26, 2025, 8 p.m.)

On Feb. 27, McMann was formally charged with misdemeanor first-degree trespassing and misdemeanor breaking or entering in connection with the incident at Hopewell Elementary, after a magistrate found probable cause for the charges. An additional $5,000 secured bond was set. His first court appearance for the school-related charges was scheduled for February 28 in Randolph County District Court. McMann was assigned a court-appointed attorney to represent him in both cases, and his total secured bond was set at $65,000.

While in custody, McMann was served with a Post-Release Commission warrant by NC Probation and Parole for absconding supervision out of Davidson County. Due to that warrant, he will be held without bond until a preliminary hearing is held within seven days.

In response to the incident, Randolph County Schools officially banned McMann from being on any school property in the county.
On the afternoon of Feb. 28, Randolph County School System Superintendent Dr. Stephen Gainey addressed the incident in a public statement on YouTube. Dr. Gainey acknowledged that the situation should never have occurred. 

“The situation on February 26 should never have happened. Without a doubt, it has created a high level of fear and anxiety among students, staff members, and parents during the last three days. I am very sorry that any student, staff member, or parent had to experience these feelings,” said Dr. Gainey in the video. “Please know that I will work with my staff members to do everything possible to earn your trust back and prevent this type of situation from ever happening again.”

He also reaffirmed the district’s commitment to student safety and stated that additional security measures, including the temporary placement of an SRO at Hopewell Elementary, had been implemented​. 

Although no students or staff were harmed during the incident, the event has raised concerns about security protocols in elementary schools. The presence of a full-time SRO at Hopewell in the coming weeks is expected to provide an added layer of security as the district evaluates long-term safety improvements.