Remove ads by Supporting Independent News
Written by: A. Smith
Published February 11, 2026 @ 9:42 AM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A man accused of fatally shooting a woman just yards from a south Fulton County elementary school has been arrested following a brief chase in Middle Georgia, authorities said.
Christopher Loris Ates, 39, was taken into custody by the Houston County Sheriff’s Office after deputies attempted to stop his vehicle near Russell Parkway and Highway 41 in Warner Robins on Tuesday. Houston County Sheriff Matt Moulton said Ates fled, leading deputies on a short pursuit before crashing his vehicle.
The arrest came hours after Palmetto Elementary School was placed on a hard lockdown around 11 a.m. following reports of gunfire. Fulton County police responded to the area and discovered a woman dead near the school grounds.
The victim has been identified as Eboni Anderson, 34, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner. School officials said Anderson was not a staff member at the elementary school but was a parent of a Fulton County Schools student who does not attend Palmetto.
In a letter to families, Principal Jacqueline Bowens said law enforcement indicated the shooting appeared to stem from a domestic dispute that spilled onto school grounds. She emphasized that no one inside the building was ever in danger and that staff followed all safety protocols.
“While this is an incredibly difficult circumstance for our community, I want to reassure you that no Palmetto Elementary students or staff were involved, and at no time were individuals inside our building in danger,” Bowens wrote.
More than 550 students inside the school were secured in classrooms during the hard lockdown. During a hard lockdown, all learning stops and students and staff take immediate actions to lock and secure doors and employ protection strategies learned during drills, such as hiding and keeping away from windows or doors.
Students were later transported to Bear Creek Middle School for reunification and dismissed for the day.
Ates was booked into the Houston County Jail on charges of reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and second-degree cruelty to children. Officials said he also faces additional charges out of Warner Robins and pending murder charges in Fulton County.
According to the Georgia Department of Corrections, Ates previously served 10 years in prison for a 2006 armed robbery conviction in Houston County. Jail records show multiple prior arrests.
Fulton County Schools Police said law enforcement agencies are working together to transfer custody so Ates can face criminal charges in Fulton County. It remains unclear when he will be extradited.
Counselors and members of the district’s CARE Team are scheduled to be on campus Wednesday to support students and staff. The letter encouraged parents to reassure children, maintain normal routines and allow students to ask questions and express emotions.
The investigation remains ongoing.