'I didn't do anything illegal:' Man banned from Gwinnett, Hall schools denies accusations
An 18-year-old South Korean visitor finds himself at the center of growing controversy as parents across two metro Atlanta counties raise alarms about his interactions with local students.
Speaking with Channel 2 Action News, the young man, who requested anonymity due to death threats, offered his side of a story that has sparked widespread concern among school officials and parents.
He has not been arrested, and no police department has announced any criminal charges.
'I arrived in here, like five days ago, and I didn't do anything illegal,' he insisted, defending himself against allegations that have led to bans at all school campuses in both Gwinnett and Hall counties.
The controversy erupted Monday when Seckinger High School officials sent parents an urgent letter warning about an individual contacting students through social media and inviting them to meet in person.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
By Tuesday, both Gwinnett County School Police and Hall County Sheriff's deputies had issued criminal trespass warnings against him after he attempted to enroll at West Hall High School. Hall County School officials say he didn't have the proper paperwork and he was not the appropriate age.
The man claims his presence at Seckinger High School last week was legitimate, stating unidentified parents let him in and staff provided him with a visitor's badge.
As for why he came to Georgia, he says it was to reconnect with people he had met previously. He denied he ever introducing himself as a student at the school.
'I met some friends who go to Seckinger High School,' he explained, adding that his social media connections were not initiated by him.
'They found my Instagram account from another, like mutual friends…They sent me a message first.'
While admitting to purchasing gifts for teens he met, he downplayed their significance and said he did it to make friends.
TRENDING STORIES:
Man meeting Gwinnett County teens with luxury gifts banned from schools
Storms bring down trees, knock power out for thousands
Toddler killed when 2 adults riding dirt bike with no headlight hits SUV in DeKalb Co.
'I bought gifts, but it was like 43 U.S. dollars included tax. Also, it is not luxury gift,' he said. 'I'm using my parents' money.'
When directly confronted whether he is a danger to others, he stated firmly: 'No I'm not a pedophilia so I'm not.'
Homeland Security investigated and confirmed Tuesday that the man possesses a valid 90-day tourist visa, and no police department has announced criminal charges against him to date.
As the controversy continues, the visitor says may cut his Georgia stay short
'I will not stay in here anymore. When I finish everything in here, then I will go to New York City or like Vancouver,' he said.
School officials continue urging parents to discuss online safety with their children as the investigation continues.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Woman Learns What Really Happened To Rescue Dog, Been 'Haunted Ever Since'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The backstory of a two-year-old pit bull mix who is still waiting for a home is breaking hearts online. RescueMeATL, a nonprofit dedicated to saving shelter dogs from euthanasia, shared a video about Karamja, a dog who entered the shelter system three months ago on March 2nd, when Animal Control was called to a DeKalb County apartment complex in Georgia. While in the apartment complex, Karamja was being chased away by residents who were throwing rocks at her. While she had no severe or visible injuries, she was dangerously underweight and emotionally shut down. Her story gained momentum after RescueMeATL member Jennifer Galloway penned an Instagram plea, sharing the heartbreaking details of Karamja's past, which has amassed more than 82,000 views since being posted earlier this week. The caption read: "POV: You found out what broke her and you've been haunted ever since." She added: "Her eyes told me she was broken, before I found out what broke her." Shelter staff later confirmed Karamja had recently given birth—but no puppies were ever found. Pictures of two-year-old Karamja who is waiting for a home after a traumatic start in life. Pictures of two-year-old Karamja who is waiting for a home after a traumatic start in life. @rescueme_atl/Instagram The caption went into further detail about her heartbreaking condition, saying: "But that's not the worst part. The reason why she was wandering all around lost—she had just given birth. Her puppies nowhere to be found. Robbed from her "Her home. Robbed from her. Her body. Robbed from her. You could count every rib." RescueMeATL's Erica Perets told Newsweek: "She entered the shelter system: terrified, underweight, and abandoned. Karamja is a painful example of backyard breeding's devastating cycle. "In many cases, dogs are discarded after their litters are taken—left behind, often in poor condition, after being used for profit." In 2024, approximately 7 million animals entered U.S. shelters and rescues, according to Shelter Animals Count—an increase of nearly 3 percent from 2023. By the end of the year, 103,000 more pets had entered shelters than had exited, contributing to an ongoing capacity crisis in U.S. shelters. Around 748,000 animals experienced non-live outcomes, including euthanasia, death in care, and being lost in care, in 2024. While this represents a 1.6 percent decrease compared to 2023 and a 20 percent drop from 2019, the number remains high. Dogs made up a growing share of these outcomes, with euthanasia rates rising to 9 percent, compared to 7 percent in 2019. Currently at DeKalb County Animal Services, Karamja, who weighs just 39 pounds, is still waiting for a home, and RescueMeATL is calling for urgent foster placement or adoption to prevent her from being overlooked. "She's sweet, docile, and loving. Dog friendly," the Instagram captioned said. Newsweek reached out to DeKalb County Animal Services via email for comment. "She was recently taken in by a short-term shelter foster, someone who stepped up just to buy her more time," Perets said. But she added that Karamja still needs a more permanent place to call home: "Karamja urgently needs a long-term foster or an adopter who can give her the stability and love she's never known," she explained. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ohio's school bus safety bill passes state house
A new bill that focuses on school bus safety is now heading to the Ohio Senate. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7's Mason Fletcher breaks down what is inside this bill today on News Center 7 Daybreak from 4:25 a.m. until 7 a.m. TRENDING STORIES: Missing 24-year-old woman found 'safe,' police say 26-year-old man dead after motorcycle hits tree in Warren County 'Whip/Nae Nae' rapper sentenced for murder of cousin House Bill 3, the School Bus Safety Act, passed 88-0 on Wednesday at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. It is sponsored by two state representatives, Rep. Bernie Willis, R-Springfield, and Rep. Cecil Thomas, D-Cincinnati. The bill was introduced after a deadly school bus crash in Clark County that killed one student, Aiden Clark, and injured dozens of others in 2023. It now heads to the Ohio Senate. We will update this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man arrested as part of FBI investigation, charged in connection with 3 pipe bomb incidents
A man was arrested as part of an FBI investigation and has been charged in connection with three pipe bomb incidents. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested 50-year-old Robert Gilb in Green Township, according to an FBI Cincinnati spokesperson. As previously reported by News Center 7, FBI agents were seen going in and out of a home in an Ohio neighborhood. TRENDING STORIES: 6-year-old hit, killed by car in Harrison Township Officers respond after vehicle reportedly hits Miami County motel Former school staffer who pleaded guilty to sexual relationship with student sentenced to prison Gilb has been charged with three counts of possessing an unregistered destructive device and three counts of transporting explosive materials, the spokesperson said. 'This alleged activity posed a serious risk to public safety,' said Elena Iatarola, FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge. 'The FBI worked closely with our law enforcement partners to neutralize this potential danger and protect the community.' Gilb is accused of detonating three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Hamilton and Butler counties, according to court documents. 'A complaint affidavit details that on April 12, Hamilton County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Miami Township for a report of a loud explosion. They discovered what appeared to be a blast crater and components of an improvised explosive device (IED),' said FBI Cincinnati. 'Further investigation revealed that there were two prior incidents in Morgan Township that allegedly had similar characteristics to the incident in Miami Township. Butler County sheriff's deputies had responded to incidents there on March 23 and March 28.' Witnesses allegedly saw Gilb in a white BMW near the site where at least one of the IEDs exploded, FBI Cincinnati said. He faces up to 10 years in prison if he's convicted of both charges. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
