A fight that stemmed from an earlier incident at Dunwoody High School resulted in the arrest of an armed 13-year juvenile at Brook Run Park’s Lemonade Days festival on April 23.
According to Dunwoody Police Spokesperson Sgt. Michael Cheek, police were notified by a juvenile male that a group of peers were attempting to fight him at DHS, and that one of his alleged attackers had a gun.
Cheek said officers were dispatched to Brook Run Park, where they found the group of juveniles in question around 7:30 p.m.
“We spoke with them and located a firearm on a 13-year-old male who was amongst the group during questioning,” Cheek said. “The 13-year-old was charged with minor in possession of a handgun. His parents were notified, responded to the officer’s location, and released to them.”
The weapon, a handgun, was confiscated and placed into the department’s evidence room, Cheek said.
No other juveniles were charged in the incident, but four teens were criminally trespassed from Brook Run Park until the Lemonade Days Festival is over, Cheek said.
Hope Fullmer, who is the director of community events for the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, the entity that puts on the five-day festival, said the “safety and security of our festival goers is our top priority at all times of our fundraising event. “
“The Dunwoody Police Department, along with our private security firm, are diligent in enforcing our safety protocols and that was evident last night and will continue through out our family event, “ Fullmer said.
In 2024, an unspecified threat of violence at the festival was investigated and deemed to be unfounded, according to Dunwoody Police.
According to Cheek, the threat was received and investigated in conjunction with the DeKalb County School police. Several posts on social media indicated that the person making the threat was somehow affiliated with Peachtree Middle School, however the threat was deemed to be not credible.
The festival, which is celebrating its 25th year, features full-scale carnival rides and food-and-beverage options, along with a Peachtree-qualifier 5k run on April 26th at 8 a.m. Weekend events include pony rides and a petting zoo
The Lemonade Days festival began in 1999 as a relief effort for those families affected by the 1998 tornado that destroyed entire Dunwoody neighborhoods. With the idea of “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” that beginning has expanded to five days of activities that have historically attracted about 80,000 people to the park, located at 4770 Peachtree Road.
This is a developing story. Check for updates throughout the weekend.
