WELLINGTON, Fla. — Two students were arrested Thursday after bullets were found at Wellington High School.
Principal Cara Gorham said the situation started when they received a tip regarding a possible safety threat on campus.
WATCH BELOW: Parents share concerns after 2 students arrested at Wellington HS
"Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately initiated limited movement while School Police investigated. That investigation led to the discovery of bullets on campus," Gorham said in a statement to families and staff.
After a thorough search, Gorham said law enforcement did not find any weapons.
"At no point was there an immediate threat to student or campus safety," Gorham said. "Two students were arrested and are now facing criminal charges."
The principal said the students will also be subject to the most severe disciplinary consequences under the Student Code of Conduct.
"We maintain a Zero Tolerance Policy for any infraction that poses a threat to school safety. As this is an active investigation involving students, we are limited in the additional details we can share at this time," Gorham said.
"COPS CAME IMMEDIATELY"
WPTV reporter Joel Lopez spoke to parents of students who attend the high school, who said they were filled with safety concerns.
Wendy Wagner is a parent of a junior who goes to Wellington High School.
"It's scary for me," Wagner said. "My son has special needs, so it's a little bit scary for him. He processes a little differently than we do."
She said she waited two hours before she was able to get him out of class.
Charles Dimario is the parent of two students, a sophomore and a junior, who attend classes at the school.
"To have this happen, it was scary as you have no idea," Dimario said.
He said one of the students who was arrested was in his son's second-period class.
"The cops came immediately and took him out of that class, so I'm shaking thinking about it," Dimario said.
An "all clear" was given at the school at 12:39 p.m. This came after a "limited movement" alert was posted on the school's Facebook page at 10:50 a.m.
Below is the full statement sent by Principal Cara Gorham to families and staff on the matter:
Good afternoon, Wellington High School families and staff,
Thank you for your continued support and patience. I’d like to share additional context and details about today’s events.
Earlier in the day, we received a tip regarding a possible safety threat to our campus. Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately initiated limited movement while School Police investigated. That investigation led to the discovery of bullets on campus. After thoroughly searching the campus out of an abundance of caution, law enforcement found no weapons. At no point was there an immediate threat to student or campus safety.
Please know this situation is taken extremely seriously. Two students were arrested and are now facing criminal charges. They will also be subject to the most severe disciplinary consequences under the Student Code of Conduct. We maintain a Zero Tolerance Policy for any infraction that poses a threat to school safety. As this is an active investigation involving students, we are limited in the additional details we can share at this time.
The safety and well-being of our students and staff will always be my top priority. I want to thank our School Police and local law enforcement for their quick and thorough response. I’m also grateful to our staff for helping maintain a calm, supportive environment throughout the day. I especially want to acknowledge the students who did the right thing by speaking up. Their actions helped ensure a swift response and underscore the importance of saying something when you see something.
Our students are regularly encouraged to speak up when they see or hear something concerning. Today is an example of that working well. Students are always encouraged to report any suspicious or concerning activity to a trusted adult or through the FortifyFL app.
For our seniors, we know today was meant to be a joyful celebration. Stay tuned for information on how we will celebrate the Class of 2025, so they can enjoy the kind of positive and memorable experience that they deserve!
Thank you for your patience and for being part of a school community that looks out for one another.
Cara Gorham
Principal
Wellington High School
