Seminole County

Musical instrument triggers lockdown at Central Florida middle school

Teen accused of killing family dog A 17-year-old boy is accused of killing his family's dog with a sword in Lake County, Florida, according to WFTV. (vmargineanu/Getty Images/iStockphoto, File)

OVIEDO, Fla. — Lawton Chiles Middle School in Oviedo experienced a brief Code Red alert on Monday when a student was seen holding a musical instrument as if it were a weapon, prompting the automated safety system to activate.

The incident occurred on campus and was quickly addressed by law enforcement, who responded promptly to the alert.

Principal Dr. Melissa Laudani released the following statement regarding the incident.

Dear Chiles Middle School Families, Students, and Staff,

I wanted to send a follow-up and share with you what prompted the brief Code Red on our campus.  As you know, we have multiple layers of school safety, including an automated system that detects potential threats.  A student was walking in the hallway, holding a musical instrument as if it were a weapon, which triggered the Code Red to activate.  While there was no threat to campus, I’d like to ask you to speak with your student about the dangers of pretending to have a weapon on a school campus. 

We are thankful for the quick response by our law enforcement partners, and our students and staff following our safety protocols. 

—  Principal Dr. Melissa Laudani

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Jake Jordan

Jake Jordan, WFTV.com

Jake Jordan is a UCF Radio and Television alum on the WFTV Content Center Team. He hosts podcasts and live shows, and previously worked as a producer, reporter, and anchor on Orlando's Morning News with Scott Anez.

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