EDITORS NOTE: This article includes new information provided in the case supplement report that includes the narrative of the primary officer.
NGHS Releases Statement
The following statement was sent to parents by Dr. Ashley Wilkes, the school Principal, on the afternoon of Monday, March 31st, 2025.
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This afternoon, at approximately 3:00 p.m., a report was made to Northgate administration that a student was in possession of a firearm on campus. Administration and the school’s SRO investigated immediately. The student reported to be in possession of the firearm was located and removed from the presence of other students without incident, and the handgun was found in the student’s vehicle in the student parking lot.
The report that was made to Northgate and CCSO School Resource Officers was that the student had been in possession of the firearm in a school lockeroom, and showed it to another student earlier in the day, although the report of that incident was not made until late Monday afternoon. This matter is still under investigation, and appropriate legal consequences will follow.
Unrelated to this incident, a Code Red alert was made late this afternoon, during dismissal (at 3:34 p.m.), which resulted in the sheltering of students on campus. This alert was an inadvertent Code Red alert made through our school’s Centegix system, and was not related to the student in possession of the firearm or the investigation of that matter.
The administration’s continued emphasis on safety remains an utmost priority. Please remind your students to notify the administration at any time when they are concerned about their safety or the safety of others. It is our goal to always be proactive when the safety of students is concerned and to be transparent with our parents and stakeholders if an incident occurs.
If you have any questions regarding this incident or the safety procedures at Northgate High School, please do not hesitate to contact me at 770-463-5585. We maintain our focus on education and look forward to your continued support.
Coweta County Sheriff’s Office Case Report
On April 17th, NCST was able to obtain a copy of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office case report and supplemental reports regarding the incident. The supplement to the report includes an officer narrative written by the primary officer.
According to the narrative, written by Cpl. Cowart with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, he was assigned to Northgate High School on March 31st and at approximately 2:55 PM was contacted by Sgt. J. Funderburk ( NGHS’s SRO ) requesting his immediate response to the student parking lot “due to a potential armed student on the premises.” Cpl. Cowart continues that “Sgt. Funderburk relayed information from Assistant Principal Bryan Hicks, who reported that another student had informed him that Malik Dixon was carrying a handgun inside the school.”
Locating Dixon and Securing Firearm
- According to Assistant Principal Hicks, when he attempted to locate Dixon, he saw him near the intersection of the Main Hall and 200 North Hall. As Hicks approached Dixon, surveillance cameras showed Dixon looking at his cell phone. Dixon immediately fled down the 200 North Hall toward the student parking lot. Hicks reported calling for Dixon to stop as he reached the end of the hall, but Dixon briefly glanced at him before continuing his run to the vehicle. By the time Hicks reached the vehicle, Dixon had already closed the passenger side door.
Video footage confirmed Dixon`s flight down the hall and his subsequent exit from the building to the passenger side of his vehicle in the parking lot.
- Principal Ashley Wilkes arrived at the scene shortly thereafter, followed by Sergeant Funderburk and myself. Upon my arrival, Dixon was escorted to Assistant Principal Ladd’s office. Dixon was then brought back out, and Principal Wilkes indicated that she needed to search his vehicle due to the reported firearm. Dixon agreed to the search, stating, “You can search my car,” and accompanied Principal Wilkes to the vehicle, where he stood beside Assistant Principal Hicks.
Upon opening the passenger side door and inspecting the glove compartment, Principal Wilkes discovered a Taurus 9mm handgun. She immediately alerted Sergeant Funderburk, who took possession of the firearm and handed it to me. Dixon was saying that it was his mama`s gun and that she usually keeps a clip and holder in the console also. Dixon said that he didn`t know that it was in the vehicle. I secured the weapon in an evidence bag and placed it in my patrol vehicle after checking it through GCIC/NCIC.
Investigation of Preceding Events
- Further review of surveillance footage revealed that Dixon had visited his vehicle multiple times earlier that day, following an alleged altercation in the boys` locker room around [ 9:20 AM ]. Video footage shows Dixon walking out of the back door to the locker room and toward his vehicle in the lower gym parking lot. He opened the passenger side front door briefly before turning around and walking back to the locker room, holding the front of his hoodie, as if concealing something. As Dixon entered the locker room, other students, appearing alarmed, exited through a different door leading to the locker room hall. They walked quickly, seemingly trying to avoid something.
Although there are no cameras inside the locker room, Dixon was later seen outside again, meeting up with another vehicle – an SUV with multiple occupants. Dixon approached the vehicle, shook hands with the occupants, and spoke with them for a few minutes before they left the school property. Principal Wilkes also informed me that three students had reported seeing Dixon with the firearm inside the school, although their identities were not immediately clear.
Mother Responds to School
- Dixon’s mother, Alietha Sinkfield, was contacted by school administrators and arrived at the school shortly afterward. Upon speaking with Ms. Sinkfield, she claimed that Dixon’s vehicle was currently in the shop, and that she had left her personal firearm in the car that Dixon was using. Ms. Sinkfield accepted full responsibility for the firearm, although she acknowledged that Dixon was in control of the vehicle. Dixon, however, stated that while he knew his mother owned a firearm, he was unaware it was in the vehicle.
As a result of the investigation, Dixon was arrested and transported to the Coweta County Jail for processing on a charge of possession of a weapon within a school safety zone. The firearm, magazine, 11 bullets, and a plastic holster were placed into evidence at the Coweta County Sheriff`s Office evidence locker 007. Dixon`s vehicle was returned to Ms. Sinkfield. At the time of the incident, my body-worn camera was activated.
Suspect Arrested
Booking records indicate the following individual was arrested and booked regarding the incident.
Malik Deondre Dixon, 17
Malik Deondre Dixon, 17, of Newnan was arrested by deputies with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Coweta County Jail for the following charge(s).
Weapon, Carrying within School Safety Zones (F)
Booking records show that Dixon was denied bond and as of April 17th, remains in custody.
Criminal History
Dixon has no known contact with law enforcement.
