Paragould Man Accused of Pointing Gun at Junior High

Austin Hall faces charges after incident outside Greene County Tech Junior High School

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:00pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a handgun magazine loaded with ammunition, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the threat of gun violence near schools.A recent wave of gun-related incidents near schools has heightened community concerns about public safety.Paragould Today

A 26-year-old Paragould man named Austin Hall has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon after allegedly pointing a loaded gun at two people outside Greene County Tech Junior High School.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about gun violence near schools and the ability of convicted felons to illegally obtain and use firearms, which can put students, teachers, and the broader community at risk.

The details

According to a police affidavit, officers were called to the junior high school on April 8 and spoke with multiple witnesses who said they saw Hall point a gun at two victims before placing it back in a vehicle. Video footage corroborated these claims. Police searched the vehicle and found a loaded gun and three magazines. Hall later admitted to pointing the firearm at the victims during an interview.

  • The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on April 8, 2026 outside Greene County Tech Junior High School.
  • Hall has a prior conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon from November 2025.

The players

Austin Hall

A 26-year-old Paragould man who has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Greene County Tech Junior High School

The school where the incident involving Austin Hall allegedly took place.

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What they’re saying

“We must take all threats of gun violence near schools extremely seriously to protect our students and communities.”

— Mayor Samantha Wilkins, Paragould Mayor

What’s next

Hall is being held on $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court next week to face the charges.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges communities face in keeping guns out of the hands of convicted felons and preventing gun violence near schools, which can have devastating impacts on student safety and the broader community.