Okeechobee County - Thursday February 2, 2023: Central Elementary School in Okeechobee went into lockdown Thursday morning after an 8-year-old student told another student on the bus he had a gun in his backpack.
The 8-year old did NOT have a gun, but the student he told called his parents on his cell phone, the parents called authorities, and the school immediately went into lockdown. The School Resource Officer responded patrol units were on site within one minute, according to a release from the Okeechobee County Sheriff. Central Elementary is located at 610 SW 5th Avenue in Okeechobee.
The student who said he had a gun was identified and searched. No weapon was found. The all clear was give shortly after 9 a.m.
This was the second time in the past week that a public school in Okeechobee County went into a lockdown after a student said he had a gun, but didn't. Last Friday, January 27, Osceola Middle School went into lockdown following a similar incident.
The release from Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen said the child who called his parents "did the right thing." The Sheriff also appealed to parents to "talk to your children; this is NOT A JOKE - every threat will be treated swiftly."
"Actions and threats ... have consequences," said the sheriff. "These incidents cause mass panic inside and outside the school, not just (on) that day but the trauma that can last a lifetime."
