GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A gunshot intended for a rattlesnake led authorities to briefly lock down an elementary school in northeast Georgia.

Hall County school officials say gunfire was heard Wednesday afternoon near Mount Vernon Elementary School in the Gainesville area, leading them to lock down the school.

School district spokesman Gordon Higgins said law officers determined that the shots came from a resident next to the school who was shooting a rattlesnake on his property.

The Times of Gainesville reports (http://bit.ly/13NQRLs) that the school was locked down for about 10 minutes before sheriff's officials determined the source of the gunfire.

Hall County sheriff's Sgt. Stephen Wilbanks said there's no indication that the shots were fired toward the school. He said the incident was still under investigation.