The Villages Charter School campus was under a complete lockdown late Tuesday morning after a report of a suspicious person in the area.
Numerous squad cars from the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office were on site at the school. Some of the deputies had weapons drawn.
The school was put on lockdown in an abundance of caution, according to a representative with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
A helicopter was circling an area over the school, as well as over the popular shopping corridor from Olive Garden to Bonefish Grill.
K-9 units were also dispatched to the scene.
Shortly before noon, the Sheriff’s office reported that contact was made with the subject reported as the suspicious person.
Wildwood Police were also called to the scene to lend assistance.
Villages Charter School issues statement
The Villages Charter School has issued the following statement in the wake of the lockdown:
“Luckily, this was a false alarm. Two area residents were passing each other on the sidewalk in front of VHS–one, with headphones on and singing a song with lyrics about guns & shooting and while carrying an object that appeared to be a weapon. The other person felt unsafe and called 911. This initiated the lockdown and a full scale search by the Sumter County Sheriff’s office. They found the person and confirmed that there was never a weapon on campus.”
