POSSIBLE GUN INCIDENT. POLICE, PARAMEDICS ON SCENE. UPDATE: NOTHING FOUND AFTER NEARLY AN HOUR.
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
UPDATE: 5:37 p.m. — The Palm Beach County School District transmitted this message to parents, on behalf of the Boca High principal: “Good afternoon Boca Raton Community High School families and staff, In the School District of Palm Beach County, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution today, our school was immediately placed on a lockdown when an anonymous threat was made to our campus. School Police, Boca Raton Police Department, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office secured the campus and thoroughly investigated the potential threat. Nothing suspicious or dangerous was discovered, and the threat was determined to be unsubstantiated.
On behalf of Boca Raton Community High School, I have extended our gratitude to School Police, Boca Raton Police Department, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for their swift action today. I’m also grateful for the professionalism of our staff and the cooperation of our students. Students and staff remained safe during the entire process. School Police are continuing to investigate the unsubstantiated threat to our school. Therefore, I won’t be able to provide any additional information at this time.
As a reminder, making a threat to a school is a second-degree felony. Anyone found to have made a threat to school safety will face severe consequences, including criminal charges. This applies whether the threat is written or electronic, or even if it’s meant as a joke. We all play a role in school safety and continually encourage students to use the FortifyFL to report any suspicious activity.
Thank you, Bobcats. Dr. Susie King, Principal, Boca Raton Community High School“
UPDATE: 5:21 p.m. — There is still no update from Boca Raton Police concerning what led to the lockdown or what the school district is calling an unsubstantiated threat.
UPDATE: 2:16 p.m. — The “all clear” has been given by police. Boca Raton Police, however, have not yet updated information regarding the source of the threat.
UPDATE: 2:05 p.m. — Boca Raton Police, in a somewhat contradictory message, says it is now investigating the “threat” but the Palm Beach County School District is providing additional information to parents and staff. The police department did not update about the status of its in-school search. The school district has not updated the public in nearly half an hour.
UPDATE: 1:40 p.m. — Boca Raton Police again say they are finding nothing as investigators in the school continue their sweep.
UPDATE 1:39 p.m. — The Palm Beach County School District is transmitting this message to parents: “Please see the third message sent to families of Boca Raton Community High School families regarding the unverified, anonymous threat made to campus: The school has transitioned to limited movement as the School Police and Boca Raton Police Department investigation continues of the unverified threat to campus. All students and staff continue to be safe.
Details regarding dismissal will be sent to all families when available. Please do not come to campus. Thank you for your patience.”
UPDATE 1:30 p.m. — Students providing images to BocaNewsNow.com say the school is now at a “code yellow.” Police confirm that officers are making a “Final Sweep.”
UPDATE: 1:13 p.m. — The Palm Beach County School District is transmitting this message to parents right now: “Please see the second message sent to families of Boca Raton Community High School regarding the unverified, anonymous threat made to campus: Boca Raton High School families and staff: The school remains on lockdown due to an anonymous unverified threat to campus. All students and staff continue to be safe. School Police and Boca Raton Police Department are on the scene investigating now. Again, there is no verified threat to the campus. Families, please do not come to campus at this time. We will continue to update you.“
UPDATE: 1:06 p.m. — Boca Raton Police on the scene of Boca High are still apparently not finding anything as what they are now calling a “precautionary search” of the school continues. Information we are receiving suggests that someone likely accidentally triggered the school district’s panic alert. Each teacher has a panic button. The system can also be triggered by app.
UPDATE: 12:50 p.m. — Still nothing found, according to police on the scene. BocaNewsNow.com has separately NOT received any information from parents in communication with their students that anything has actually “happened” to lead to the lockdown and massive police response.
UPDATE: 12:46 p.m. — The Palm Beach County School District issued this statement to BocaNewsNow.com: Please see below about the unverified, anonymous threat made to Boca Raton Community High School. The following message was sent to families of the school: Boca Raton High School families and staff, The school is currently on lockdown due to an anonymous report of a threat to campus. School Police and Boca Raton Police Department are investigating now. There is no verified threat to the campus. Please do not come to campus at this time. We will continue to update you.
UPDATE: 12:43 p.m — Parents who choose to respond are being told to respond to 3200 Airport Road which is Cinemark. To be clear: we do not know why parents would be told to respond. Police have not updated their report that nothing has been found.
UPDATE: 12:35 p.m. — Police now say they have found nothing suspicious in the school. A “SaferWatch” activation prompted the emergency response. That may mean that a teacher or staff member accidentally activated an alert. The Palm Beach County School District has not responded to requests for information.
UPDATE: 12:32 p.m. — We are still awaiting an official statement from the Boca Raton Police Department.
UPDATE: 12:25 p.m. — Boca Police acknowledge that there is a scene but will not say anything else. Sources say multiple paramedics are staging near the school. Police are on scene trying to assess what is happening. Parents tell BocaNewsNow.com report that their kids are being told to stay where they are, quietly.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — There are reports of a Code Red at Boca High School for a possible shooter or person with a weapon. You will see lots of activity in the area of Boca High and Whole Foods off of Glades Road. The address of Boca High is 1501 NW 15th Court in Boca Raton.
Check back for updates.
