A student was apprehended on Friday afternoon following the discovery of a firearm on the premises of a high school in Broward County, as confirmed by authorities.
Fort Lauderdale police spokesperson Casey Liening informed officers that school security had reported a student with a gun on the campus of Stranahan High School, situated at 1800 SW Fifth Place, shortly before 2 p.m.
The school was put on lockdown and officers promptly initiated a search of the premises, according to Liening. According to Liening, officers were able to swiftly locate the student and recover a loaded gun.
The lockdown has been lifted and dismissal has resumed. According to students, the school’s response to the incident initially gave the impression of a routine drill.
“There was a drill, but there was no communication during it, so I assumed it was just a test,” shared student Christopher Walton. “Upon arriving, I noticed the presence of law enforcement, leading me to believe that the situation was indeed genuine.”
Isaiah Tineo, along with other students, expressed a strong desire for an end to the violence in schools.
“These incidents involving threats of individuals bringing firearms onto campus must come to an end,” he stated.
Although no shots were fired and no one was injured from the incident, the potential severity of Friday’s events weighed heavily on the minds of many students. The suspect was apprehended and taken into custody in a police vehicle at approximately 5 p.m.
The investigation is still ongoing and the student is facing potential criminal charges. Additional information has not been made available at this time.