CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. -- A Lenoir man was charged in Caldwell County after he walked into two schools on Tuesday and had a gun on his waist in one of them. A family member says he may have dementia.

• Collettsville School placed on lockdown
• Suspect faces two counts of felony possession on educational property
• Family says he is a recovering alcoholic and shows signs of dementia

At Happy Valley Elementary, deputies say Blaine Pennington III made his way into the building with his dog. He was told to leave and he did, but then he made his way to Collettsville School.

Laurie Clemmer was at the school visiting her daughter when she heard the lockdown come over the speakers. Her daughter and classmates hid in the building

“It was very scary. A lot of us were crying and praying because we were terrified,” said sixth-grader Cheylyn Hall.

Teachers told students to get up against the wall, but Pennington again left the area. He was later arrested by deputies and charged with two counts of felony possession of a gun on educational property.

“My knees just buckled. I honestly thought I was going to pass out because it is so unbelievable. So unlike him,” Pennington’s sister, Teresa Slone said. “From every bit of my body, there is no way he was there to hurt a child.”

Slone says he is a recovering alcoholic who is showing signs of dementia. She says he remembers nothing about Tuesday and she wants to get him help.