Waldo Pafford Elementary School was locked down briefly Friday afternoon in Hinesville.
The lockdown began shortly before 2:30 when a man believed to be wearing a sidearm was seen walking near the school property, according to Hinesville Police Lt. Terronova Smith.
A search of the area did not find the man. Smith said it is believed the man may have been coming from a bearby fishing hole.
Officers remained on scene while the children loaded their school buses.