An incident that began at Rains Junior High School at lunch on Friday ended in tragedy that afternoon when Garry Prather, 52, was shot and killed at his home by the school district’s police officer.  Earlier in the day, Prather had been called to the school after his son was involved in an incident in the lunchroom. According to reports, when Prather arrived, he was belligerent and made threats to office personnel before leaving with his son.  Prather then went to the home of one of the school board members, who was able to calm him down somewhat and urged him to speak with the school’s superintendent. An appointment was made for Prather to meet with Supt. David Seago at 3:00; however, he did not show up for the appointment.  In the meantime, the school district’s police officer, Shanna Sanders, took statements from the office staff where the threats were made and obtained an arrest warrant. Sanders then proceeded to Prather’s house on Industrial Road in Emory to arrest him for making terroristic threats, a misdemeanor. Rains County Reserve Deputy Chuck Witt accompanied her.  Chief Deputy David Traylor said Prather’s wife said he had taken medication and was asleep and she would not wake him, “but you can try.” According to statements, when the officers woke him up, Prather stated that he would not be taken to the sheriff’s office alive. As he stood up from the bed, he reached and retrieved a long gun (rifle or shotgun) from a gun rack on the wall next to the bed and aimed it at Deputy Witt.  At that point, Officer Sanders pulled her gun and fired, hitting Prather twice, once in the side and once in the chest area. During the commotion, Witt fell or stumbled, cutting his face and hand.  Both officers ran outside to call for backup and an ambulance. Once the crime scene was secured, medical personnel were allowed in.  Six Department of Public Safety Troopers and Texas Ranger Phillip Kemp of Sulphur Springs worked the crime scene.  The investigation has been turned over to the Texas Rangers, Traylor said, because a deputy was involved backing up the Rains ISD officer.  Officer Sanders has been put on administrative leave with pay for the remainder of the school year. In the meantime, Emory Police Chief Bruce Feagin and sheriff’s deputies are keeping an eye on the school campus.  Funeral services for Prather will be at 2:00 today (May 25) at Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church.  “Our prayers go out to everyone involved in this unfortunate incident,” Supt. Seago said.