Special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation arrested a now-retired Chapel Hill teacher after a grand jury indicted him this week on a charge of carrying a weapon on school property. Authorities say the case traces back to a school band rehearsal last fall, where the man allegedly pulled out a gun during practice. He later turned himself in, was booked into the Marshall County Jail, and had bond set at $1,000 following what officials describe as a months-long state investigation.
WSMV reported that the man has been identified as 53-year-old Harold Delk. According to the outlet, Delk was indicted last Wednesday on a single count of carrying a weapon on school property, surrendered to authorities before being taken to the county jail, and had a bond set at $1,000. Officials say the case began after District Attorney General Robert Carter requested that the TBI look into an incident first reported on Sept. 30, 2025, during a band practice.
TBI's announcement
In a post on its Facebook page, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said agents arrested and charged a former Chapel Hill teacher but did not name the specific school, referring only to "a Chapel Hill school" as the employer. The post, shared Monday, told readers to check a comment for additional details and case information. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
Local reaction and context
The Marshall County School System lists its central office in Lewisburg and notes that it operates Chapel Hill Elementary in Chapel Hill. The district website lists its main contact address as 700 Jones Circle in Lewisburg. Local coverage says reporters contacted both Chapel Hill Elementary and the district office seeking comment, but had not received a response as of publication, according to WSMV.
Legal implications
Under Tennessee law, carrying a weapon on school property falls under TCA 39-17-1309 and can be charged as a Class E felony. That level of offense can carry a potential sentence of up to six years in prison, along with fines. The Tennessee Code spells out the elements of the crime and possible defenses, and prosecutors will decide how to proceed based on what the investigation ultimately shows.
What happens next
Delk currently faces the single count listed in last Wednesday's indictment as the case moves through Marshall County courts, and no court date was included in the initial public announcement. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in its Tennessee Bureau of Investigation post that the probe is still active and asked anyone with information to contact its agents. Local outlets report that investigators are continuing to gather details and that future court filings will indicate whether prosecutors seek any additional charges.
