CLERMONT, Fla. – A gun was found Friday morning at East Ridge High School in Lake County, prompting a lockdown, according to the school district.
The district said the gun, which was found in a metal lockbox, was secured. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said a staff member at the school received a tip that a student had a gun.
The sheriff’s office said two students are in custody and facing charges of possession of a firearm by a minor, disruption of a school function and possession of a weapon on school grounds.
The lockdown was placed “out of an abundance of caution” and will be lifted when law enforcement completes its investigation. As of 12 p.m., the lockdown was still in place.
“Please remember that in lockdown situations, students remain in place and no one aside from law enforcement is allowed to come on campus. This is for the safety and protection of everyone involved,” a call to parents said.
No other information was released, but deputies said there was no threat and no one was injured.
Lila McCarroll is a student at the school and says she was on her to school when the lockdown happened. She says she waited for it to end so she could reunite with her friends who were still inside.
“I never thought that would happen here, but it was really scary because I have a lot of friends here,” said McCarroll.
Rocky Lange says he went to the school to pick up his son.
“I was nervous as a parent with everything going on these days,” Lange said.
Lange said when his son messaged him about what happened, “I told him if anything happens, hide and don’t be a hero.”
Serena Peterson, whose daughter is a student at the school, “called me scared, so it’s really concerning there was a gun on the property. You just never know what will happen.”
Peterson is thankful she was able to reunite with her daughter, and no one was hurt.
“Bless God that nothing happened and she’s safe and I’m able to pick her up,” she said.