Several Cape Coral schools were locked down Wednesday morning after a threat was made to a student at Cape Coral High School.
In addition to the high school, Heritage Charter Academy, Skyline Elementary, Challenger Middle School, Pelican Elementary and Patriot Elementary were placed on lockdown as a precaution. The lockdowns were later lifted.
A report from Cape Coral police said that officers were called to high school on Santa Barbara Boulevard South at 7:43 a.m. following a report of the bomb threat.
Police said that, according to initial reports, an unidentified male dressed in camouflage attire and carrying a backpack was reported to have threatened a student with blowing up the school before leaving the area northbound on foot.
Officers searched for the suspect joined by a Lee County Sheriff's Office aviation unit and the Florida Highway Patrol. As a precaution, surrounding schools, businesses, and daycares were placed on lockdown.
At the same time, a report of potential gunfire near the parking lots of Publix and Target, directly opposite Cape Coral High School, was investigated. It was later determined the sounds were caused by a motorcycle backfiring, not gunfire.
Over the following two and a half hours, law enforcement units combed the area and used business surveillance footage to identify a suspect. By shortly before 10:30 a.m. the lockdowns were lifted and at 10:43 a suspect was detained by Cape Coral police detectives for questioning.
"Our detectives currently have a suspect from this morning's incident in custody on unrelated charges," Cape Coral police Deputy Chief Dana S. Coston said. "Further updates will be provided once a charging decision has been made by the State Attorney's Office regarding the alleged threats against the school and subsequent disruption of school functions it caused at Cape Coral High School and across the city.”
A Lee County School spokesman said a letter was sent to parents at the schools involved explaining the situation.
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