Hunter
11/30/23
More details have been shared about an incident Wednesday where a parent of a Grant Wood Elementary School student is accused of threatening staff at the school while armed with a gun.
According to a release from the District, Iowa City Police were called to the school just after 9 am. 31-year-old Brandon Jones of The Quarters on Highway 6 East entered the building and the main office to reportedly confront the principal about sending his son home from school. Staff at the school reported that Jones demanded to see the principal and threatened multiple times to assault the principal. He also allegedly threatened another staff member who tried to de-escalate the situation.
At one point, Jones reportedly removed a loaded pistol and holster from his belt, handed it to his girlfriend who accompanied him and told her something to the effect of holding the weapon for Jones so he won’t do “something stupid” with it. Jones then went into the school halls to look for the principal, against the protests of staff. When members of the staff informed Jones they were calling police, he reportedly left the building and got his weapon back from his girlfriend before being stopped by police.
Surveillance video from the school corroborated the narrative of school staff.
Jones’ girlfriend allegedly told officers that she told him not to take the gun with him to school. Jones admitted to taking the gun to school and handing it off to his girlfriend. He denied threatening anyone but then reportedly admitted that he may have in the heat of the moment. Jones also admitted knowing it was illegal to bring a firearm onto school grounds.
He faces charges of Carrying Weapons on School Grounds and two counts of First Degree Harassment. If convicted on all charges, Jones could be sentenced to up to 9 years in prison.
The Iowa City Community School District announced in an email to families Wednesday that they have counselors at Grant Wood Elementary for staff members or students who wish to speak to someone about the incident.