Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown of the Southern District of Alabama announces today that Barbara Grice of Foley, Alabama, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment following a November 2015 guilty plea to a charge of possession of a firearm in a school zone.

On February 25, 2015, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received an active shooter call at the Elberta Elementary School at approximately 1:25 p.m. Grice had gained entry to the cafeteria area of the school where her sister was employed. Grice was armed with a loaded .38 caliber revolver which she pointed at her sister. Grice discharged the firearm.

BCSO Deputies and Elberta Police Department Officers arrived on the scene and saw Grice walking toward vehicles in the back parking lot. They yelled for her to stop and when she turned to face them they saw a pistol in her right hand, down at her side. Grice was ordered several times to put the firearm down, and she ultimately complied. Grice was ordered to walk away from the weapon and lay on the ground.

Possession of a firearm in a school zone is a violation of Title 18, United States

Code Section 922(q)(2)(A). After hearing emotional statements from a number of teachers and school employees, and considering the contents of letters submitted by other teachers at the school, Chief United States District Court Judge William H. Steele upwardly departed from the sentencing guideline range in imposing the thirty-six month sentence, which will be followed by a 3 year term of supervised release. During the sentencing hearing Judge Steele noted that Grice has serious charges pending in Baldwin County as a result of this event.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the Elberta Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.

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