Harrisburg high school principal put on leave after judge orders PFA against him

The principal of John Harris High school was placed on administrative leave after a judge approved a full order of protection from abuse against him earlier this week.

An ex-girlfriend’s testimony that Laquan Magruder, 33, leveled a gun at her on several occasions, stalked her, and logged into her bank account after they broke up informed Dauphin County Judge Courtney Powell’s decision to approve the protection-from-abuse order on Wednesday.

When PennLive reached out to the school district spokeswoman about Magruder’s status amid the PFA on Friday afternoon, she said schools were closed and she would provide a response next week.

Hours later, the district sent a notice to parents informing them about the suspension due to the PFA, saying they don’t normally comment on personnel matters but “this has become a matter of public record in our judicial system and involves one of our school leaders.”

The district said it took immediate action after learning of the PFA but the spokeswoman did not say the date Magruder was placed on administrative leave.

PennLive could not immediately reach Magruder for comment.

No criminal charges related to the allegations have been filed. The girlfriend gave the following account in her initial civil petition, filed Jan. 4:

She said they dated for three months last year. As the relationship progressed, the woman said Magruder showed signs of anger management problems.

“He began to be aggressive and curse at me, yet his issues were with other people,” the woman wrote to the court.

The woman said after more outbursts of anger, Magruder began pointing his guns in front of her. On one occasion, Magruder invited the woman to his home for dinner. After picking up some pesto, she arrived at his North Progress Avenue home.

Magruder opened the door pointing a gun at her when she arrived, she wrote.

“He said he thought someone was trying to break in. Yet we were just on the phone and texting and he told me to come there,” the woman said. “I thought he was going to shoot me.”

The woman then said he had a blank stare on his face and walked into his room once again in silence with [the] gun in his hand and in deep thought.

The woman also said she caught Magruder on video driving by her house late at night, and that she had to reset all her accounts and passwords, get a new debit card and change her locks.

“He drives by my house at night,” she said. “I’ve caught him on camera. I am living in fear.”

As part of the protection order, Magruder has been instructed to temporarily turn over his firearms, and to have no contact with the woman or her children. The order lasts for one year, until Jan. 17, 2025.

This was Magruder’s first year as the leader of the high school. The district hired him in August and touted his 12 years of service to students, families and educations, in addition to his eight years of experience as non-commissioned officer in the United States Army National Guard.

Magruder’s LinkedIn profile shows he co-founded Fidelity Firearms & Tactics, which provides firearm safety and operation training.

Protection-from-abuse orders can be granted temporarily until a court date is set for a judge to hear the petitioner’s argument. Once the judge hears the case, a full order of protection can be issued, as was done in this case.

An acting principal for the high school will be announced in the near future, a spokesperson for the district said.