School lockdown lifted after ‘suspicious person’ reported near Lake Shore Middle

jacksonville, florida – The Lakeshore Middle School campus was under a temporary Code Red lockdown Thursday morning after a bus driver reported seeing a suspicious person with a weapon approaching the school .

The report has led to an all-out response from both the Duval County Schools Police Department and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department, as well as from many horrified families.

Duval County School Police Chief Greg Burton said a strong agency response is standard when threats to school campuses are reported.

After receiving reports of the threat, the campus was placed in an enhanced security state, and students who were on school buses at the time remained there while investigations were conducted classroom by classroom.

“They said they were on the bus at 7:38 this morning.

“They were confined to the bus because once they got into Code Red, there would be no movement on campus,” Burton said.

In the end, according to Burton, his agents found nothing and the Code Red threat was downgraded to Code Yellow status — security continues to be beefed up, but the rest of the day is a classroom Free movement between them was allowed.

Burton said a full-scale response is the norm when threats to the campus are reported, and new incidents are always taken seriously.

“Together with our other law enforcement partners, we have had this reaction. “I’m constantly training,” he said.

Parents received notice of the lockdown and were allowed to pick up students for the day after the investigation was completed. Dozens of families pulled their children out of school that day. This particular study found nothing, but for parents, regardless of the outcome, it’s a terrible idea to put their children at potential risk.

“She was panicked, I mean, scared. “I mean, whether it’s nothing or not, it’s scary, especially when you have all these cops everywhere.”

A mother of a middle school student from Lake Shore also told News4JAX: I didn’t understand what was going on. I’m just thinking about the safety of my baby, the safety of my nieces and nephews, and really the safety of all my children. I’m just scared is.

Please remember that any parent or guardian who wishes to pick up a student after such an incident or actual emergency must submit information to the school office.

If your name is not on the list of parents authorized to pick up the student, they will not be released to you. Therefore, if you have not yet submitted the information to the school, we recommend that you keep the information on file.

Below is a message sent to Lakeshore Middle School families on Thursday.

first communication

“Good Morning Lakeshore Middle Family,

“Duval County Public Schools to inform you that Lake Shore Middle is currently on a Code Red lockdown due to reports of suspicious individuals breaking into the campus. We are on the ground and will continue to update you as we have more information.During Code Red, for the safety of our students and staff, no one is allowed on or off campus. , for the safety of our students and staff, no one is allowed on or off campus. We will update you soon.”

follow-up communication

“Hello Lakeshore Middle Family, Duval County Public Schools, I am here to update you on the status of your school. Students and staff are safe. Again, all students and staff are safe, Code red has changed to code yellow.

“Police have thoroughly searched the campus and have concluded that there is currently no threat to the school. However, the school remains on Code Yellow for the rest of the day and police will continue to monitor the campus.

“Due to the lockdown, some students were detained on buses until police determined the campus was safe. Those students are now allowed into the building to go to class.

“The initial lockdown was invoked as a result of reports of suspicious and potentially armed individuals intruding on campus. We have therefore made the school Code Red as a result of this report.

“We appreciate the police work in keeping our campus safe. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we take these security measures to keep our students and staff safe.”