Investigators in Baldwin County have recovered a bullet they say was fired inside Elberta Elementary School during a confrontation between a woman facing attempted murder charges and her sister, a school employee, adding another piece of physical evidence to a case that shook the small Baldwin County community late last month.
“It’s another piece of physical evidence in the case,” said Maj. Anthony Lowery, spokesman for the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. “From the very beginning we said we were investigating this as a shots fired case.”
The defendant, 51-year-old Barbara Grice, remained jailed on a $1 million bond as of early this week. Deputies arrested her on charges including making a terrorist threat, attempted murder and possession of a deadly weapon on school grounds following the incident.
According to Elberta Police Chief Stan DeVane, the confrontation began after a cafeteria worker heard a knock at a back service door and opened it. When she didn’t see anyone outside, she began to let the door close. Investigators said Grice managed to slip inside as the door was shutting, carrying a loaded revolver, and threatened to kill her sister, who serves as the school’s cafeteria manager. Authorities said the two women had a history of ongoing domestic issues.
During a bail hearing shortly after her arrest, Grice appeared confused and told the court she did not understand the charges against her. Investigators, however, said they believe she was fully aware of her actions at the time she confronted her sister inside the school.
The school was placed on lockdown as authorities responded to the scene and took Grice into custody. No injuries were reported among students or staff during the confrontation, and officials have emphasized throughout the investigation that the incident stemmed from a personal dispute between family members rather than a broader threat aimed at students.
The case remains under active investigation as prosecutors continue building their case using the physical evidence recovered from the scene, including the bullet found at the school. Baldwin County school officials have said they continue reviewing security procedures at Elberta Elementary in the wake of the incident, working to reassure parents and staff as the legal process moves forward.