Two St. Johns County middle schools were briefly locked down this week after receiving threats from a caller or callers. In both instances, the caller was male. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and federal and state authorities are investigating.
Monday morning, Feb. 24, a member of the Landrum Middle School staff received a call from someone stating that he was nearby, had a firearm and wanted to “kill children.”
School staff initiated emergency lockdown procedures, and an alert was sent to the Sheriff’s Office Real Time Intelligence Center, where analysts took over school cameras. School buses were diverted away, and law enforcement personnel swept into the area.
The resource deputy onsite took action to protect students and staff.
Due to its proximity to Landrum, Ocean Palms Elementary was placed on a soft lockdown. Both lockdowns were lifted after law enforcement searched the areas.
Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, a caller phoned Pacetti Bay Middle School to say he was nearby, had firearms and explosives, had committed a homicide and then made threats against the school.
The resource deputy onsite spoke with the caller, and the school was placed on lockdown while law enforcement conducted a search. No credible threat was found.
Both incidents are considered hoaxes and possibly “swatting,” where a hoax emergency call is made for the purpose of generating a response from law enforcement.
