BOCA RATON, Fla. — Boca Raton police have given the all clear on Monday afternoon after investigating a report of a possible armed person at Boca Raton Community High School.
In a post on X just before 12:30 p.m., the Boca Raton Police Department said officers responded to the school, along with members of the School District of Palm Beach County's Police Department, "in reference to a report of a possible armed subject on campus."
@BocaPolice are on scene at Boca Raton High School with @PBSchoolsPD in reference to a report of a possible armed subject on campus. Numerous officers are currently checking the school for suspicious activity. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/qkYdYTicad
— Boca Raton Police (@BocaPolice) December 2, 2024
Roughly 90 minutes later, at 2 p.m., the police department said that after sweeping the campus, "At this time, all is clear," adding that nothing suspicious has been found.
In a callout to parents and guardians, the School District of Palm Beach County said Boca Raton High School "has been given the all-clear by police. All students and staff are safe."
"Details regarding dismissal will be provided via email, phone call, and posted to our website. Please do not come to campus at this time," the district said in its message.
In an earlier callout to parents and guardians, the district said "there is no verified threat to the campus."
Parents were told to head to the parking lot of the Cinemark on Airport Road. Once in the parking lot, parents got updates from the school's assistant principal. But most parents were seen on their phones trying to stay in contact with their kids.
"It's the unknown, it's the unknown of what it is, of what's going on," Evan Gallahoun told WPTV's Todd Wilson.
He and hundreds of other parents were frantic to know if their kids were safe or in harm's way.
"Getting pictures and videos of my kid in the closet is a little frightening," Dana Abraham said.
What happened at Boca High isn't a one off. A similar situation happened Monday at Hialeah Senior High School in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
"This is a sight that we're seeing too many times in our country right now, which is just horrible," Lev Parnas said.
The report of the possible armed person came through SaferWatch, a mobile panic alert app, according to the Boca Raton Police Department.
According to Boca Raton police, the school district is now investigating where the anonymous threat came from.
Read the full statement on the incident from Boca Raton principal Dr. Susie King:
Good afternoon Boca Raton Community High School families and staff,
In the School District of Palm Beach County, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution today, our school was immediately placed on a lockdown when an anonymous threat was made to our campus. School Police, Boca Raton Police Department, and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office secured the campus and thoroughly investigated the potential threat. Nothing suspicious or dangerous was discovered, and the threat was determined to be unsubstantiated.
On behalf of Boca Raton Community High School, I have extended our gratitude to School Police, Boca Raton Police Department, and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for their swift action today. I’m also grateful for the professionalism of our staff and the cooperation of our students. Students and staff remained safe during the entire process.
School Police are continuing to investigate the unsubstantiated threat to our school. Therefore, I won't be able to provide any additional information at this time.
As a reminder, making a threat to a school is a second-degree felony. Anyone found to have made a threat to school safety will face severe consequences, including criminal charges. This applies whether the threat is written or electronic, or even if it’s meant as a joke. We all play a role in school safety and continually encourage students to use the FortifyFL to report any suspicious activity.
Thank you, Bobcats.
Dr. Susie King
Principal
Boca Raton Community High School
Good afternoon Boca Raton Community High School families and staff,
In the School District of Palm Beach County, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution today, our school was immediately placed on a lockdown when an anonymous threat was made to our campus. School Police, Boca Raton Police Department, and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office secured the campus and thoroughly investigated the potential threat. Nothing suspicious or dangerous was discovered, and the threat was determined to be unsubstantiated.
On behalf of Boca Raton Community High School, I have extended our gratitude to School Police, Boca Raton Police Department, and Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for their swift action today. I’m also grateful for the professionalism of our staff and the cooperation of our students. Students and staff remained safe during the entire process.
School Police are continuing to investigate the unsubstantiated threat to our school. Therefore, I won't be able to provide any additional information at this time.
As a reminder, making a threat to a school is a second-degree felony. Anyone found to have made a threat to school safety will face severe consequences, including criminal charges. This applies whether the threat is written or electronic, or even if it’s meant as a joke. We all play a role in school safety and continually encourage students to use the FortifyFL to report any suspicious activity.
Thank you, Bobcats.
Dr. Susie King
Principal
Boca Raton Community High School
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