Mulitple Hernando County Schools were on lockdown Thursday after a firearm was brought to a school campus. Five students were arrested.
Hernando High School, Parrott Middle School, Brooksville Elemetary School and the Hernando Schools District Office were all placed on lockdown until a thorough sweep of Hernando High School was completed.
The school resource deputy there received information that a firearm was observed on the campus.
“I was like 'oh lord my kids in danger.' First thing parents do is go to panicking," said parent Dekendra Woods.
It was the talk in the car line Friday outside Hernando High School.
The Sheriff’s office says a 15-year-old stole a 9mm handgun from a relative and handed it off to another teen on the bus.
Then they tried to sell it to three 17-year-olds in the school bathroom.
But one of them ran off with it.
“From what’s going on around the country, there’s a lot of people shooting up schools and stuff, having it so close to home, it’s devastating," said Woods.
Investigators eventually arrested all five teens, and found the gun stashed at a home under a mattress along with two rifles.
“Obviously because the gun was taken off campus, it doesn’t appear in hindsight that they intended on doing anything that particular day. But of course we have no idea what their intent was in the future," said Sheriff Al Nienhuis.
The Sheriff says students and staff handled the lockdown just like they practice.
But it did create a panic.
“They tell you that on lockdown you can’t pick up your children. That’s all you want to do is go get your kids," said parent Stacy Lake.
“Do not. Do not make these decisions. Don’t bring a weapon on campus. Don’t make threats because serious consequences are going to happen as a result of that," said Superintendent John Stratton.
