DAVENPORT, Fla — A lockdown was put in place at Davenport School of the Arts Thursday morning after a report of a "suspicious person" near campus.
The lockdown has been lifted after the Polk County Sheriff's Office investigated.
Deputies said there was no threat to any students or staff at the school. The sheriff's office said the report of two young men in black clothing carrying long guns was determined to be two men targeting shooting with BB guns on their property.
“We were outside doing our morning routine, playing basketball and getting our morning stretches and immediately we went into lockdown, everyone started running, we left our book bags," Braden Danser, an 8th grader said. “It’s only been like the fourth or third day of school, we already went over how to do the lockdown, fire drill, tornado drill, and it just so happens it happens today.”
Deputies say their property is less than a mile north of the school.
"Thankfully, this was not an active assailant situation. We became aware of two suspicious people, and out of an abundance of caution, we responded swiftly and we were able to determine there was no legitimate threat. I want to compliment the caller who saw something and said something. I also want to acknowledge the great work done by the deputies, Polk Schools staff, and members from Winter Haven PD, Haines City PD, Davenport PD, Lake Wales PD, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a release.
A heightened state of security is no longer in effect at Horizons Elementary, Loughman Oaks Elementary and Ridge Community High.
"You’ve seen the news recently with El Paso and Dayton and all the other schools in the past and it happens almost every day it seems like," Lindsay Lomb, Braden's mother said. “Until you’re actually the one getting that call or in that situation and feeling that panic and that terror and not knowing. You have no idea.”
Parents can pick up their children from Davenport School of the Arts if they wish; it will be considered an excused absence. However, classes are resuming as planned.
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