GREENSBORO, N.C. -- One day after a man with a gun and backpack full of bullets entered Smith High School, attendance was way down.
Guilford County Schools says 340 students called out on Tuesday, one day after Steve Spence got into the school cafeteria heavily armed with written intent to kill.
Guilford County Schools says the attendance rate was 74 percent, and it’s usually around 90 percent.
"Guilford County Schools routinely practice drills so that students and staff can prepare when unfortunate incidents occur, schools are very safe and we would like to have 100 percent attendance tomorrow," Chief of Schools Tony Watlington said.
The school system said they didn't have information to share regarding how Spence gained access into the school cafeteria at this time.
"Well unfortunately a lot of our school buildings were built many years ago before we had more frequent interruptions, however we are very strategic in how we utilize staff and how we practice and train for these kind of evens and staff did exactly what they were trained to do," Watlington said.
WFMY News 2 obtained the hit list, which is evidence in the case, that had at least five names on it. Two of which were Greensboro residents: a current and former Smith High teacher. Court documents reveal Spence personally knew the people he listed.
Arielle and Mason Kings' names were underlined and emphasized on the hit list. It reads "kill Arielle & Mason."
WFMY News 2's Jessica winters spoke to Arielle and Mason King. They didn't want to say how they know Spence, but did say they were happy with Smith High's 'swift response' to stop the suspect before he caused any harm.
Mason returned to school on Tuesday. Arielle says she no longer works at Smith High, but she taught math there last year.